hank old Alec for it.

"The gift is a very poor one, but I shall be just as much pleased as you
are, if you will receive it," answered the old man, as he put the cage
into Fanny's hands.

The bird did not seem at all startled or afraid of her, but hopped about
from perch to perch, and uttered a few gentle notes, as if it was much
pleased at having her for its future mistress.

"But I have kept you waiting a long time outside," said the old man.
"You must come in for a few minutes to rest, before you begin your
journey home; and I have got some sweet milk and a fresh bannock--a
better one than I had to offer you the other day. You will go back all
the merrier for a little food."

Fanny thought it would please the old man to accept his invitation, and
perhaps too, she might be able to get him to tell her and Norman some of
the adventures which the laird said he had gone through, so calling to
Norman, and holding the cage in her hands, she went into the house.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

THE SAILOR'S STORY.

Norman having done nothing to tire himself, thought he should like best
to play outside the cottage instead of going in to rest. He followed
his sister, therefore, in a discontented mood.

Old Alec begged Fanny to sit down in his arm-chair near the table, on
which he placed the bird-cage, so that she could see it, and watch its
little occupant hopping about, while it now and then uttered its sweet
song. He offered a stool to Norman, who sat down with his hat on
looking very grumpy and somewhat angry. Old Alec, however, did not
appear to remark this, but busied himself in pouring out some cups of
milk, which he brought to Fanny and him, and then offered them the
bannock of which he had spoken.

"You see that Robby and I are not all alone," he observed, as he pointed
round the room to the birdcages. "I like to listen to their talk more
than I do to what many of my fellow-creatures say. It always seems to
me that birds are praising God, when I hear them singing, and that is
more than many people do, when they talk. But perhaps, young lady, you
think it is cruel in me to keep them shut up, when they might be flying
about in freedom amid the woods and over the moors; I think I should be
cruel, if I took them after they had been accustomed to a free life, but
every one of those birds has been brought up from a fledgling. I have
never taken more than one or two from the same nest, and in truth have
saved the lives