“My, I’m so thankful,” said Feather Flop, “though I don’t see how you can forgive me. Are you certain that you do?”
“Very certain!” smiled Mary Frances. “As certain as I am that you’ll never do such a thing again!”
“Never again!” solemnly declared Feather Flop, holding up one claw. “Never again!”
“Well, now, eat your breakfast,” said Mary Frances, putting him down and gently stroking his beautiful feathers.
“I—haven’t—eaten—a—beakful,” said Feather Flop between hungry pecks, “since—I—was—put—in—prison,—so—you—can—imagine—how—awfully—hungry—I—am.”
“Indeed I can,” laughed Mary Frances, delighted to see him his own self again.
“Does being forgiven always make a person feel hungry?” asked Feather Flop.
“Well, being unforgiven makes a person feel very unhungry,” said Mary Frances.
“A strange thing about me, I guess,” said Feather Flop, “is, that after I’ve eaten a full meal, I’m not hungry.”