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big oak。 Then he stood behind her and pointed out the sumac and
the female bird。
〃Jest you keep still a minute； an' you'll feel paid for comin'
all right； honey；〃 he whispered； 〃but don't make any sudden
movement。〃
〃I don't know as I ever saw a worse…lookin' specimen 'an she is；〃
answered Maria。
〃She looks first…class to him。 There's no kick comin' on his
part； I can tell you；〃 replied Abram。
The bride hopped shyly through the sumac。 She pecked at the
dried berries； and frequently tried to improve her plumage； which
certainly had been badly draggled； and there was a drop of blood
dried at the base of her beak。 She plainly showed the effects of
her rough experience； and yet she was a most attractive bird； for
the dimples in her plump body showed through the feathers； and
instead of the usual wickedly black eyes of the cardinal family；
hers were a soft tender brown touched by a love…light there was
no mistaking。 She was a beautiful bird； and she was doing all in
her power to make herself dainty again。 Her movements clearly
indicated how timid she was； and yet she remained in the sumac as
if she feared to leave it； and frequently peered expectantly
among the tree…tops。
There was a burst of exultation down the river。 The little bird
gave her plumage a fluff； and watched anxiously。 On came the
Cardinal like a flaming rocket； calling to her on wing。 He
alighted beside her； dropped into her beak a morsel of food； gave
her a kiss to aid digestion； caressingly ran his beak the length
of her wing quills； and flew to the dogwood。 Mrs。 Cardinal
enjoyed the meal。 It struck her palate exactly right。 She liked
the kiss and caress； cared； in fact； for all that he did for her；
and with the appreciation of his tenderness came repentance for
the dreadful chase she had led him in her foolish fright； and an
impulse to repay。 She took a dainty hop toward the dogwood； and
the invitation she sent him was exquisite。 With a shrill whistle
of exultant triumph the Cardinal answered at a headlong rush。
The farmer's grip tightened on his wife's shoulder； but Maria
turned toward him with blazing； tear…filled eyes。 〃An' you call
yourself a decent man； Abram Johnson？〃
〃Decent？〃 quavered the astonished Abram。 〃Decent？ I believe I
am。〃
〃I believe you ain't；〃 hotly retorted his wife。 〃You don't know
what decency is； if you go peekin' at them。 They ain't birds！
They're folks！〃
〃Maria；〃 pled Abram； 〃Maria； honey。〃
〃I am plumb ashamed of you；〃 broke in Maria。 〃How d'you s'pose
she'd feel if she knew there was a man here peekin' at her？
Ain't she got a right to be lovin' and tender？ Ain't she got a
right to pay him best she knows？ They're jest common human
bein's； an' I don't know where you got privilege to spy on a
female when she's doin' the best she knows。〃
Maria broke from his grasp and started down the line fence。
In a few strides Abram had her in his arms； his withered cheek
with its springtime bloom pressed against her equally withered；
tear…stained one。
〃Maria；〃 he whispered； waveringly； 〃Maria； honey； I wasn't
meanin' any disrespect to the sex。〃
Maria wiped her eyes on the corner of her shawl。 〃I don't s'pose
you was； Abram；〃 she admitted； 〃but you're jest like all the rest
o' the men。 You never think！ Now you go on with your plowin'
an' let that little female alone。〃
She unclasped his arms and turned homeward。
〃Honey；〃 called Abram softly； 〃since you brought 'em that
pocketful o' wheat； you might as well let me have it。〃
〃Landy！〃 exclaimed Maria； blushing； 〃I plumb forgot my wheat！ I
thought maybe； bein' so early； pickin' was scarce； an' if you'd
put out a little wheat an' a few crumbs； they'd stay an' nest in
the sumac； as you're so fond o' them。〃
〃Jest what I'm fairly prayin' they'll do； an' I been carryin'
stuff an' pettin' him up best I knowed for a week；〃 said Abram；
as he knelt； and cupped his shrunken hands； while Maria guided
the wheat from her apron into them。 〃I'll scatter it along the
top rail； an' they'll be after it in fifteen minutes。 Thank you；
Maria。 'T was good o' you to think of it。〃
Maria watched him steadily。 How dear he was！ How dear he always
had been！ How happy they were together！ 〃Abram；〃 she asked；
hesitatingly； 〃is there anything else I could do foryour
birds？〃
They were creatures of habitual repression； and the inner
glimpses they had taken of each other that day were surprises
they scarcely knew how to meet。 Abram said nothing； because he
could not。 He slowly shook his head； and turned to the plow； his
eyes misty。 Maria started toward the line fence； but she paused
repeatedly to listen； and it was no wonder； for all the redbirds
from miles down the river had gathered around the sumac to see if
there were a battle in birdland； but it was only the Cardinal；
turning somersaults in the air； and screaming with bursting
exuberance： 〃Come here！ Come here！〃
Chapter 4
〃So dear！ So dear！〃 crooned the Cardinal
She had taken possession of the sumac。 The location was her
selection and he loudly applauded her choice。 She placed the
first twig； and after examining it carefully； he spent the day
carrying her others just as much alike as possible。 If she used
a dried grass blade； he carried grass blades until she began
dropping them on the ground。 If she worked in a bit of wild
grape…vine bark； he peeled grape…vines until she would have no
more。 It never occurred to him that he was the largest cardinal
in the woods； in those days； and he had forgotten that he wore a
red coat。 She was not a skilled architect。 Her nest certainly
was a loose ramshackle affair； but she had built it； and had
allowed him to help her。 It was hers； and he improvised a paean
in its praise。 Every morning he perched on the edge of the nest
and gazed in songless wonder at each beautiful new egg； and
whenever she came to brood she sat as if entranced； eyeing her
treasures in an ecstasy of proud possession。
Then she nestled them against her warm breast； and turned adoring
eyes toward the Cardinal。 If he sang from the dogwood； she faced
that way。 If he rocked on the wild grape…vine； she turned in her
nest。 If he went to the corn field for grubs； she stood astride
her eggs and peered down； watching his every movement with
unconcealed anxiety。 The Cardinal forgot to be vain of his
beauty； she delighted in it every hour of the day。 Shy and timid
beyond belief she had been during her courtship； but she made
reparation by being an incomparably generous and devoted mate。
And the Cardinal！ He was astonished to find himself capable of so
much and such varied feeling。 It was not enough that he brooded
while she went to bathe and exercise。 The daintiest of every
morsel he found was carried to her。 When she refused to swallow
another particle； he perched on a twig close by the nest