temper after his supper, how he pecked at everybody who came
near him; how he stood sentinel at the foot of the stairs; how my
wife and I made fruitless attempts to get past, followed by
ignominious retreats; how at last we outmanoeuvred him by
throwing a tablecloth over his head, and then rushing by him, gained
the top of the stairs before he could disentangle himself.

Added to all this we had to endure language from that parrot which
was really shocking: indeed, so scurrilous did he become that we had
at last to take him and lock him up in the coal-hole, where, owing to
the darkness of his bedroom, or from fatigue, he presently swore
himself to sleep.

Well, by this time, we were quite ready for rest, and the
forgetfulness which, we hoped, sleep would bring with it; but our
peace was not to last long. About 2 A.M. my wife clutched my hair and
woke me up. "James, James, listen!" I listened. I heard a sort of
scrambling noise outside the door. "The water running into the
cistern, my dear," I said sleepily.

"James, don't be absurd; that horrid thing has broken its string, and
is coming upstairs."

I listened again. It really sounded like it.

"James, if you don't go at once, _I_ must. You know the nursery door
is always left open, and if that horrid thing should get in to
baby----"

"But, my dear," said I, "what am I to do in my present defenceless
state of clothing, if he should take to pecking?"

My wife's expression of contempt at the idea of considering myself
before the baby determined me at once, come what might, to go and do
him battle. Out I went, and there, sure enough, he was on the
landing resting himself after his unusual exertion by tucking up one
leg. He looked so subdued that I was about to take him by the string
and lead him downstairs, when he drew back his head, and in less time
than it takes to relate, I was back in my room, bleeding from a
severe wound in the leg. I shouted out to the nurse to shut the door,
and determined to let the infamous bird go where he liked. I bound up
my leg and went to bed again; but the thought that there was a stork
wandering about the house prevented me from getting any more sleep.
From certain sounds that we heard, we had little doubt that he was
spending some of his time in the cupboard where we kept our surplus
crockery, and an inspection the next day confirmed this.

In the morning I ventured cautiously out, and finding he was in our
spare bedroom, I shu