the birds. Did you ever hear anything like them?"

"I was out collecting the eggs at five o'clock this morning," returned
Mary, "and I think I never heard them so busy. The earth was all a-hum
with them. They seemed as though they _must_ be listened to, whatever
happened."

Both women stood listening.

"I came this way because I was going to leave my shilling for Lord
Axton's wedding present," said Mary, after a moment's silence.

"Did they come and ask _you_ for one?" said Anne. "I think they ought to
be ashamed of themselves."

"There's been some grumbling about it," said Mary. "I think myself the
agent should have left it to those who wanted. I suppose we could have
said No, but nobody likes to. It isn't as if people like them want any
wedding presents we can give them, and a shilling means a lot to some
people."

"It's the agent that wants to make a show," said Anne. "I think
sometimes that if those rich people knew how their wedding presents were
procured," she went on in the stilted manner habitual to her when
wishing to express a formal thought, "they would find little pleasure in
them."

"Mr Burton's given £10," said Mary. "They'll have a good sum." She
paused, distrustful.