his cravat tighter, and drawn on
a pair of white cotton gloves, which only made his short hands more
clumsy.

"Pardon me for not interrupting the regular routine of my day," said
the beautiful girl, suddenly adopting a gayer tone. "That is my tyrant.
Small as he is, and submissive as he pretends to be--if I'm not
punctual at my meals, I lose his favor. The young man can vie in good
sense and faithfulness with many grown persons, but his stomach is
still a child's and must have its dues every two or three hours, or he
gets very ill-natured. But I may venture to invite you to be my guest.
The restaurant provides me with such an abundant supply of food, that
even Jean sometimes gives up the task of attempting to eat the portion
I leave. You have already dined? But you will at least give me your
society; for my usual company, to which I will introduce you directly,
is only a make-shift."

She preceded him into the little dining room, where the boy nimbly
pushed a second chair up to the daintily spread table. But before the
young girl sat down, she went to the bird cage and opened the gilded
door. "There," said she, clapping her hands three times as if for a
signal, "there they come flying out. Some of them understand the order
of proceedings and will instruct the new comers--those shy ones at the
back that will not venture out. You must not suppose I take pleasure in
shutting up the poor things; I buy new ones almost every day, mere
native birds, as you see, just to feed them here a little while, and
then after they have given me their society at dinner, I let them fly
away again. Many, to be sure, will not go; but I am not to blame for
that. Whoever voluntarily resigns freedom for good food and care, must
accept imprisonment cheerfully. _Tu l'as voulu!_"

He listened to her quietly as a part of the gay feathered flock darted
out of the cage and fluttered around the table and corners of the room,
while the others remained timidly within. The window stood wide open;
some of the most insignificant in appearance, after hesitating a
moment, whetting their beaks on the sill and trying their wings, soared
out into the open air with loud chirps and twitterings. The remainder,
among which a beautiful gold-finch was the most attractive, crowded
about the side-board and covered dishes on the table, in eager
expectation of the good things they were to receive.

"I don't object to being alone all day," said the young mistress,
ta