114

Concord, Mass.
1916

  Indifferent, yet not unfriendly, in their attitude towards all
these the devoted couple kept apart by themselves as much as possible and either
coolly ignored or mildly repelled occasional advances made by
one or another of the others with evident desire for closer acquaintanceship.
This spirit of aloofness was especially shown
when, as happened every now and then, the inmates of
the aviary were turned out to do whatever they liked
- except scratch in flower beds. Thus freed, the Ducks, Hens
and Pigeons usually remained close about the house whereas
the Goose and the Guinea-hen invariably went off together
to ramble happily beneath the shade of 
orchard trees, amid fragrant meadow grass or through tall-growing,
unharvested corn, perhaps to rather distant woods
beyond. It may well be doubted if either bird would
have cared to go without the other on these excursions.
The Goose assuredly, would not thus have undertaken