tly reached by the human hand. In particular it has fallen
under the notice of a pair of wrens, which are like women, in that they
usually have some secret business behind their curiosity. The business
in this case is the matter of their own nest, which they have located
in a broken horse-collar in my saddle-house. At such seasons they are
alert for appropriating building materials that may have been fetched
to hand by other birds; and they have already abstracted a piece of
candle-wick from the bottom of my post-office.

Georgiana has been chilly towards me for two days, and I think is doing
her best not to freeze up altogether. I have racked my brain to know
why; but I fear that my brain is not of the sort to discover what is
the matter with a woman when nothing really is the matter. Moreover,
as I am now engaged to Georgiana, I have thought it better that she
should begin to bring her explanations to me--the steady sun that will
melt all her uncertain icicles.

At last this morning she remarked, but very carelessly, "You didn't
answer my note."

"What note, Georgiana?" I asked, thunderstruck.

She gave me such a look.

"Didn't you get the note I put into that--into that--" Her face grew
pink with vexation and disgust.

"Did you put a note into the--into the--" I could not have spoken the
word just then.

I retired to my arbor, where I sat for half an hour with my head in my
hands. What could have become of Georgiana's note? A hand might have
filched it; unlikely. A gust of wind have whisked it out; impossible.
I debated and rejected every hypothesis to the last one. Acting upon
this, I walked straight to the saddle-house, and in a dark corner
peered at the nest of the wrens. A speck of white paper was visible
among the sticks and shavings. I tore the nest out and shook it to
pieces. How those wrens did rage! The note was so torn and mudded
that I could not read it. But suppose a jay had carried it to the high
crotch of some locust! I ran joyfully back to the window.

"I've found it, Georgiana!" I called out.

She appeared, looking relieved, but not exactly forgiving.

"Where!"

My tongue froze to the roof of my mouth.

"Where did you find it?" she repeated, imperiously.

"What do you want to know for?" I said, savagely.

"Let me see it!" she demanded.

My clasp on it suddenly tightened.

"Let me see it!" she repeated, with genuine fire.

"What do you want to see it for?" I said.