“One talked in French. He used to say ‘Taisez-vous’ so much that sometimes we would have to put a cover over the cage to stop him.”
“And did you have other animals besides parrots?” Rosie asked. “I love animals.”
“Oh, yes, we had horses and dogs and cats and rabbits and dancing mice and marmosets and macaws and parokets and—I guess I’ve forgotten some of them. But if you like animals, you ought to go to our place in the Adirondacks—there are deer preserves there and pheasants and peacocks.”
“Who do they belong to?”
“My father.”
Rosie considered this. “Does he keep a bird-place?” she asked in a puzzled tone.
“No.” Maida’s tone was a little puzzled too. She did not know what a bird-place was.
“Well, did he sell them?”
“I don’t think he ever sold any. He gave a great many away, though.”
When Rosie went home, Maida walked as far as her gate with her.