leave it more." So these dear little squirrels returned to their forest
home, and may be living there yet.

* * * * *

"Nurse," said Lady Mary, "how do you like the story?"

Mrs. Frazer said it was a very pretty one.

"Perhaps my dear little pet is one of Nimble or Silvy's children. You
know, nurse, they might have gone on their travels too when they were old
enough, and then your brother may have chopped down the tree and found
them in the forest."

"But your squirrel, Lady Mary, is a flying squirrel, and these were only
common grey ones, which are a different species. Besides, my dear, this
history is but a fable."

"I suppose, nurse," said the child, looking up in her nurse's face,
"squirrels do not really talk."

"No, my dear, they have not the use of speech as we have, but in all ages
people have written little tales called fables, in which they make birds
and beasts speak as if they were men and women, it being an easy method of
conveying instruction."

"My book is only a fable then, nurse? I wish it had been true; but it is
very pretty."