again,
grimly.

"So 'tis. There! I got something on this front brea'th the other day,
and it won't come out, try all I can. I thought mebbe you could--"

She plunged into depths of pressing and turning. At this moment the
shop-bell rang, and Miss Penny slipped back to her post.

"Good mornin', Miss Vesta! Well, you are a sight for sore eyes, as the
saying is."

"I thank you, Penelope. How do you do this morning?" inquired Miss Vesta
Blyth. "I trust you and Prudence are both well."

"Yes'm, we're real smart, sister 'n' me both. Sister's had the lumbago
some this last week, and my limb has pestered me so I couldn't step on
it none too lively, but other ways we're _real_ smart. I expect you've
come to see about Darlin' here."

She took a cage from the window and placed it on the counter. In it was
a yellow canary, which at sight of its mistress gave a joyous flap of
its golden wings, and instantly broke into a flood of song.

"Oh!" said Miss Vesta, with a soft coo of surprise and pleasure.

"He has found his voice again. And he looks quite, quite himself. Why,
Penelope, what have you done to him to make such a difference in these
few days? Dear little fellow! I am so pleased!"

Miss Penny beamed. "I guess you ain't no more pleased than I be," she
said. "There! I hated to see him sittin' dull and bunchy like he was
when you brought him in. I've ben givin' him Bird Manna and Bitters
right along, and I've bathed them spots till they're all gone. I guess
you'll find him 'most as good as new. Little Beauty Darlin', so he was!"

"Old friends!" said the parrot, ruffling himself all over and looking at
Miss Vesta. "Vesta, Vesta, how's Phoebe?"

"Jocko here!" said Miss Vesta. "Good morning, Jocko!"

[Illustration: "SHE PUT OUT A FINGER, AND JOCKO CLAWED IT WITHOUT
CEREMONY."]

She put out a finger, and Jocko clawed it without ceremony.

"I advised Aunt Marcia to send him to you, Penelope, and I am so glad
she has done so. He seemed quite croupy yesterday, and at his age, of
course, even a slight ailment may prove serious."

"How old _is_ that bird, Miss Vesta, if I may ask?" said Miss Penny.

"I know he's older'n I be, but I never liked to inquire his age of
Direxia; she might think it was a reflection."

"I remember Jocko as long as I remember anything," said Miss Vesta. "I
used to be afraid of him when I was a child, he swore so terribly. The
story was that he had belonged to a French marquis in the time of th