“Suppose he takes it back,” cried Phillis.
“Well, ’twould look queer-like, that big stand in the donkey-chair!” and she went off laughing.
“On returning from church, I found your kind note and your bird awaiting me, and I am sorry your maid was obliged to return without the directions for knitting the ruff, which I inclose. You are very good to provide an amusement for me in your absence; but if Mrs. Grove really wishes for the cockatoo, I hope you will let me transfer it to her, for its loud voice is too much for me, and I understand nothing of the management of birds. Wishing you a pleasant visit to your friends, I remain,
Having dispatched this missive, I felt greatly relieved; but my morning’s work had so tired me that I was fit for nothing but a long rest on the sofa, and would gladly have taken a little nap; but, every time my eyes were ready to close, I was roused by the angry cry of “cockatoo.”
“That bird is a most disagreeable animal,” thought I. “How can any one endure him? Even the wearisome cry of a gallina would less offend my ears. It would be long before I should wish for a parrot: but a parrot is a clever, entertaining bird, and affords some variety—this bird has only one word. A rook can only say ‘caw,’ yet contrives to make its one harsh note tolerably pleasant; but _this_ tiresome thing—Oh dear, there it goes again! Phillis must be tormenting it.”
In fact, the cockatoo set up such a noise that I became quite irritable, and rang the bell. “Phillis, don’t worry that bird.”
“_I_ worrit the bird?” cries she, in high dudgeon, “why, I wasn’t even in the kitchen. I declare it worrits _me_!”
And, hastening off, she soon returned with the cockatoo on its stand, flapping its wings, and violently pecking her bare arms, and set it down before me with a jerk, saying, “There, you’ll see now, mum, whether it’s worrited by me or not. And it was a present, not to me, but to yourself.”
“Poor Phillis! how _could_ you let it peck your arms so?”
“Oh!” said she, mollified, and smearing them with her apron, “I’m not made of gingerbread!”
“But I really cannot have this bird _here_.”
“But, if he is, I cannot be. I was trying to go to sleep; and I shall expect him to scream every moment.”
