See!" and he took up in his hand a creature that could just be seen
to be intended for a bird, though the long skinny neck was bare, and
the tiny quills of the young wings only showed a little grey
sprouting feather, as did the breast some primrose-coloured down.
Miss Fosbrook had to part with some favourite cockney notions of the
beauty of infant birds, and on the other hand to gain a vivid idea of
what is meant by "callow young."
Sam quickly put his nestling back, and showed her the parent. She
could hardly believe that the handsome bird in the smooth grey coat
and bright straw-coloured waistcoat, with the broad jet-black line
down the centre, the great white cheeks edged with black, and the
bold knowing look, could be like what the little bits of deformity in
the nest would soon become.
"Ay, that's an ox-eye," said Sam. "You'll hear them going on peter--
peter--peter--all the spring."
But Sam was cut short by a loud and lamentable burst of roaring where
they had left the party.
Miss Fosbrook hurried back, hearing Hal's rude laugh as she came
nearer, it was Elizabeth, sobbing in the passionate way in which it
is not good to see a child cry, and violently shaking off Susan, who
was begging her to stop herself before Miss Fosbrook should come.
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