Saying this, he alighted on the ground, as did his mate and her family, where they met with a plentiful repast, in the provisions which had been accidentally scattered by the person whose employment it was to bring food for the inhabitants of the fowl-houses. When they had sufficiently regaled themselves, all parties gladly returned to the nest, and every heart rejoiced in the possession of liberty and peace.
For three successive days nothing remarkable happened either at Mr. Benson's or at the redbreasts' nest. The little family came to the breakfast-table, and Robin recovered from his accident, though not sufficiently to fly well; but Dicky, Flapsy, and Pecksy continued so healthy, and improved so fast, that they required no further care, and the third morning after their tour to the grove they did not commit the least error. When they retired from the parlour into the courtyard, to which Robin accompanied them, the father expressed great delight that they were at length able to shift for themselves.
And now a wonderful change took place in his own heart. That ardent affection for his young which had hitherto made him, for their sakes, patient of toil and fearless of danger, was on a sudden quenched; but, from the goodness of his disposition,
