We sat in the big garden-window, she darning my socks or polishing her nails, in either case like a good wife; I reading aloud after my commendable practice. Presently I became aware of insistent competition; a shrill, tiny sound was interrupting me. I cannot bear interruption. I desisted, laid the book down, and sought the origin of this impertinence. After a time I perceived it. On the path hopped a fledgling, fallen, like Lucifer, through pride. It had thought to fly when it was only fit to hop. I can imagine it, goodliest of the brood, lording it in the matter of elbow-room and getting more than its fair share of worm. And this afternoon, sated with such easy triumphs, it had said to the others (the parents being for the moment away), "Now, you scum, just watch me fly like the governor and mater." So here it was, on the path, hopping and proclaiming its wrongs to the garden. For one cannot suppose that its spirit was at all chastened by experience. It was obviously
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