e return for this wonderfully
generous, agreeable, tasteful, well-appointed, luxurious, elegant, and
altogether acceptable banquet. What have you to say, O little Dove?"

But the Dove hung her head, ashamed of her companion, and said very
simply:--

"O Master Owl, I can only thank you with all my heart for the
hospitality and shelter which you have given me this night. I was beaten
by the storm, and you took me in. I was hungry, and you gave me your
best to eat. I cannot flatter nor make pretty speeches like the Bat. I
never learned such manners. But I thank you."

"What!" cried the Bat, pretending to be shocked. "Is that all you have
to say to our obliging host? Is he not the wisest, bravest, most gallant
and generous of gentlemen? Have you no praise for his noble character as
well as for his goodness to us? I am ashamed of you! You do not deserve
such hospitality. You do not deserve this shelter."

The Dove remained silent. Like Cordelia in the play, she could not speak
untruths even for her own happiness.

"Truly, you are an unamiable guest," snarled the Owl, his yellow eyes
growing keen and fierce with anger and mortified pride. "You are an
ungrateful bird, Miss, and the Bat is right. You do not deserve this
generous hospitality which I have offered, this goodly shelter which you
asked. Away with you! Leave my dwelling! Pack off into the storm and see
whether or not your silence will soothe the rain and the wind. Be off, I
say!"

"Yes, away with her!" echoed the Bat, flapping his leathery wings. And
the two heartless creatures fell upon the poor little Dove and drove her
out into the dark and stormy night.

Poor little Dove! All night she was tossed and beaten about shelterless
in the storm, because she had been too truthful to flatter the vain old
Owl. But when the bright morning dawned, draggled and weary as she was,
she flew to the court of King Eagle and told him all her trouble. Great
was the indignation of that noble bird.

"For his flattery and his cruelty let the Bat never presume to fly
abroad until the sun goes down," he cried. "As for the Owl, I have
already doomed him to this punishment for his treatment of the Wren. But
henceforth let no bird have anything to do with either of them, the Bat
or the Owl. Let them be outcasts and night-prowlers, enemies to be
attacked and punished if they appear among us, to be avoided by all in
their loneliness. Flattery and inhospitality, deceit and cruelty,--wh