this cannot, therefore, be mistaken for private satire.]

"Lady patronesses!" cried Forester; "we need not expect justice from a
lady patroness, depend upon it, especially at a ball; her head will be
full of feathers, or some such things. I prophesy you will not succeed
better than I have."

The desponding prophecies of Forester did not deter Henry from pursuing a
scheme which he had formed. The lady, who was the mistress of the canary
bird, came in a few days to visit his mother, and she told him that his
experiment had succeeded, that she had regularly locked up the wafers,
and that her favourite bird was in perfect health. "And what fee,
doctor," said she, smiling, "shall I give you for saving his life?"

"I will tell you in a few minutes," replied Henry; and in a few minutes
the little girl and her geranium were sent for, and appeared. Henry told
the lady all the circumstances of her story with so much feeling, and at
the same time with so much propriety, that she became interested in the
cause: she declared that she would do every thing in her power to prevail
upon the other ladies to examine into, the conduct of the schoolmistress,
and to have her dismissed immediately, if it should appear that she had
behaved improperly.

Forester, who was present at this declaration, was much astonished,
that a lady, whom he had seen caressing a canary-bird, could speak
with so much decision and good sense. Henry obtained his fee: he asked
and received permission to place the geranium in the middle of the
supper-table at the ball; and he begged that the lady would take an
opportunity, at supper, to mention the circumstances which he had related
to her; but this she declined, and politely said, that she was sure Henry