CHAPTER XIII

ded,rathergrimly. Themorningwasfine,andtheyhadstillsomeminutesofleisuretospend.Theyhadnotmetfortwoorthreeweeks,andMaryhadmuchtosaytoRalphbutshewasnotcertainhowfarhewishedforhercompany.However,afteraturnortwo,inwhichafewfactswerecommunicated,hesuggestedsittingdown,andshetooktheseatbesidehim.Thesparrowscameflutteringaboutthem,andRalphproducedfromhispocketthehalfofarollsavedfromhisluncheon.Hethrewafewcrumbsamongthem. “I’veneverseensparrowssotame,”Maryobserved,bywayofsayingsomething. “No,”saidRalph.“ThesparrowsinHydeParkaren’tastameasthis.Ifwekeepperfectlystill,I’llgetonetosettleonmyarm.” Maryfeltthatshecouldhaveforgonethisdisplayofanimalgoodtemper,butseeingthatRalph,forsomecuriousreason,tookaprideinthesparrows,shebethimsixpencethathewouldnotsucceed. “Done!”hesaidandhiseye,whichhadbeengloomy,showedasparkoflight.Hisconversationwasnowaddressedentirelytoabaldcock-sparrow,whoseemedbolderthantherestandMarytooktheopportunityoflookingathim.Shewasnotsatisfiedhisfacewasworn,andhisexpressionstern.Achildcamebowlingitshoopthroughtheconcourseofbirds,andRalphthrewhislastcrumbsofbreadintothebusheswithasnortofimpatience. “That’swhatalwayshappens—justasI’vealmostgothim,”hesaid.“Here’syoursixpence,Mary.Butyou’veonlygotitthankstothatbruteofaboy.Theyoughtn’ttobeallowedtobowlhoopshere—” “Oughtn’ttobeallowedtobowlhoops!MydearRalph,whatnonsense!” “Youalwayssaythat,”hecomplained“anditisn’tnonsense.What’sthepointofhavingagardenifonecan’twatchbirdsinit?Thestreetdoesallr