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Chapter III
OhLord!HowIwishYou’dbetellingmejustthisonething!”
Thegoldfinchhadventuredbacktothewire,fortherewashismate,onlyafewinchesabovetheman-creature’shead;andindeed,hesimplymustnotbeallowedtolookup,sothebravelittlefellowrockedonthewireandpiped,ashehaddoneeverydayforaweek:“SEEME?SEEME?”
“Seeyou!OfcourseIseeyou,”growledFreckles.“Iseeyoudayafterday,andwhatgoodisitdoingme?Imightseeyoueverymorningforayear,andthennotbeabletobetellinganyoneaboutit.’Seenabirdwithblacksilkwings—little,andyellowasanycanary.’That’sasfarasI’dget.Whatyoudoinghere,anyway?Haveyouamate?What’syourname?’Seeyou?’IreckonIseeyou;butImightaswellbeblind,foranygoodit’sdoingme!”
Frecklesimpatientlystruckthewire.Withascreechoffear,thegoldfinchfledprecipitately.Hismatearosefromthenestwithawhirr—Freckleslookedupandsawit.
“O—ho!”hecried.“SoTHAT’Swhatyouaredoinghere!Youhaveawife.AndsoclosemyheadIhavebeenmightynearwearingabirdonmybonnet,andneverknewit!”
Freckleslaughedathisownjest,whileinbetterhumorheclimbedtoexaminetheneat,tinycradleanditscontents.Thehendartedathiminafrenzy.“Now,wheredoyoucomein?”hedemanded,whenhesawthatshewasnotsimilartothegoldfinch.
“Youbeclearingoutofhere!Thisisnoneofyourfry.Thisisthenestofmelittle,yellowfriendofthewire,andyoushan’tbetouchingit.Don’tblameyouforwantingtosee,though.
