“Pride’s Crossing. That’s where we go summers.”

“And what do your parrots say?”

“One talked in French. He used to say ‘Taisez-vous’ so much that
sometimes we would have to put a cover over the cage to stop him.”

“And did you have other animals besides parrots?” Rosie asked. “I
love animals.”

“Oh, yes, we had horses and dogs and cats and rabbits and dancing
mice and marmosets and macaws and parokets and—I guess I’ve
forgotten some of them. But if you like animals, you ought to go to
our place in the Adirondacks—there are deer preserves there and
pheasants and peacocks.”

“Who do they belong to?”

“My father.”

Rosie considered this. “Does he keep a bird-place?” she asked in a
puzzled tone.

“No.” Maida’s tone was a little puzzled too. She did not know what a
bird-place was.

“Well, did he sell them?”

“I don’t think he ever sold any. He gave a great many away, though.”