“When do we start?” asked Miss Eider-Duck.
“To-morrow early, my darling, if the wind is fair,” said her beau.
“I’ll go with you,” said auntie. “In the first place, it’s more proper. And then it’s so charming to see young people so happy.”
They started the next morning.
It was not yet light when the birds began their passage. Thousands of eider-duck flew along in successive flocks, while thousands more came up from every side. The gull and the sparrow woke up when they heard the screaming and singing in the air.
“Fancy going north in weather like this!” said the sparrow, shivering. “Why, it’s colder than ever!”
“There’s spring in the air when one’s in love,” said the gull.
2
Day and night, the northward flight proceeded.
There were so many birds that they were quite bewildering to see and, as time passed and they neared their destination, their longing increased and they flew as though there were fire under their wings. The aunt never left the young couple and was as light and swift as they and as happy as if she herself were going to be married for the eighth time.