Meanwhile Dicky sidled, and fluttered, and chattered,
and at last showed he was used to society by setting
down on George's finger, winking at Bruce, and making
a good meal of Winny's cake.

"Do you think he can have flown straight from the
Canary Islands?" asked Winny.

But George shook his head; it was too far.

But still they had a feeling that the little visitor was
a sort of emigrant, who must be led to settle at Fairleigh
Cottage; and Winny ran to ask her mother for the half-crown
out of her money-box to buy him a cage.

"Mother's coming," she said. "She thinks Birdie
belongs to some one else, because he is so tame."

"But there are no canaries in the village, except the
schoolmaster's pair," said wise George; "and this little
beauty is not one of them. I really think this bird must
have come to look for a home."

[Illustration]


[Illustration: A]

Stands over Apples,