,"
he said.

"Come near, robin; I shall not hurt you. Sing me a song." And the
lady made that curious, kissing sound with her lips that people
always make when speaking to birds.

Robinette thought she was very polite to sing to him on such a
slight acquaintance; and not to be behind in his manners, he sang
to her with his strange, twittering note. The two conversed and
sang to each other for some little time, when another lady came
under the tree.

"Do look at that funny, little bird, Polly; it has been hopping
about close to me, and seems very tame. We must bring some crumbs
next time we come out.--Good-bye, Robin; but really you are so
small that we shall call you Robinette."

The ladies moved away, and the bird was left wondering what
"crumbs" were like.

For some days after this the rain came down so fast that poor
Robinette had much ado to keep himself dry. He cowered under his
rose-bush or kept close to the thick hedge; but all the places got
so very wet that the poor wee birdie thought life was not worth
living. However, just as he was in the depths of despair, out came
the sun from behind the clouds, and soon all nature was rejoicing
again. The two ladies came out from the house to breathe the
perfume-laden air and to enjoy the sounds of reviving nature.
Robinette was so glad to see them that he flew quite close to them,
saying in his own way, "Good-day to you--chip, chip, chip."

"There is Robinette, I declare," said Polly; "how wet and draggled
he looks, poor birdie! He needs the sun to dry his wings."

The next day was all that could be wished in the way of heat and
bright sunshine, so the ladies came to the garden seat. Robinette
was looking out for them, and could scarcely wait for the older
lady to be settled among the cushions and wrapped up in the rugs by
her daughter. There are treacherous draughts under trees, and Polly
was very careful of her mother. At last all arrangements were
complete, and Mrs. Lewis opened her book to read. Suddenly
Robinette flew on to it, quite startling her by such an approach.
But she was charmed with his trusting familiarity, and at once
asked Polly for the crumbs she had brought out. Polly produced them
from her useful apron pocket, and threw some gently on the grass
at her feet, and Robinette was soon eating the finest feast he had
ever had.

You may be sure, after having eaten these good things, Robinette
was always watching for the ladies, and he hopped bes