'I'm only thinking about these coloured shadows,' said Ben.
'I can show you when we go home, Ben,' said his uncle, 'an entertaining paper upon such shadows.'[A]
'Hark!' cried Ben; 'did you hear that noise?'
They all listened, and they heard a bird singing in the cathedral.
'It's our old robin, sir,' said the lad who had opened the cathedral door for them.
'Yes,' said Mr. Gresham, 'there he is, boys—look—perched upon the organ; he often sits there, and sings whilst the organ is playing.'
'And,' continued the lad who showed the cathedral, 'he has lived here these many, many winters. They say he is fifteen years old; and he is so tame, poor fellow! that if I had a bit of bread he'd come down and feed in my hand.'
'I've a bit of bun here,' cried Ben joyfully, producing the remains of the bun which Hal but an hour before would have thrown away. 'Pray, let us see the poor robin eat out of your hand.'
The lad crumbled the bun and called to the robin, who fluttered and chirped and seemed rejoiced at the sight of the bread; but yet he did not come down from his pinnacle on the organ.
'He is afraid of us,' said Ben; 'he is not used to eat before strangers, I suppose.'