6 
THE BROWN THRUSHES: 
sneered back as he flew out of sight. Most 
of the other birds agreed with him, for they 
knew he never expressed his opinion so 
forcibly without great cause [caws]. 
Miss Thrush, now having recovered her self- 
possession, — young females always quickly do 
under similar circumstances, — waited until 
the storm was over, when she said quietly, — 
Really, friends, I don’t know what you all 
mean. Mr. Brown has been no more than a 
friend to me, and I have regarded him only as 
such, for we are friends, dear friends : are 
we not?” she said, addressing Mr. Brown in 
a playful manner ; for it is a characteristic of 
the sex to plague their admirers at every 
opportunity. 
Poor Brown, not liking her badinage, would 
liave at once fled ; but his pride coming to 
the rescue, he answered her as coolly as pos- 
sible, Yes : dear, very dear friends.” 
This answer quickly caused Miss Brown 
to resume her remarks, and she continued, 
We have never talked of love matters, and 
we are nothing more to each other than we 
have been in times past.” 
