At starlight the next evening the Elves of Mount Fern were up and about their business as usual.
“I think,” said the Captain, “that we’ll stay here for a long time. I like the neighborhood. I like the trees and the garden and the birds; and I think we’re just as well off here as anywhere else for the present. I’m fond of Colonel Claw, too; he’s a good fellow even if he is a crow.”
“Speaking of angels makes them appear,” said Touchstone, “for here he comes.”
When Colonel Claw arrived at Mount Fern he was cordially welcomed by all the Elves.
“Have a perch,” said the Captain, “and make yourself at home.”
Rainbow thought of everything, and as soon as he knew that Colonel Claw was in the neighborhood he had the branch of a tree brought in and fixed in one of the cracks of the wall, for it isn’t good form for a crow to sit on a chair or a moss-mound.
“I just dropped in to see if you intended to celebrate Emily’s birthday in any way,” said Colonel Claw. “It is only a week from today, and as the bluebirds’ house is still undisturbed I thought it would not be amiss to call a council of the birds in the neighborhood, and see if they would be willing to serenade her.”
“A capital idea,” said Captain Featherweight, “for nothing adds so much to a festive occasion as good music. And I don’t know any music more delightful than a bird chorus.
“I thought myself of engaging the insect choir to serenade her, but before deciding that, I wished to consult you. I want the choir to perform in the evening, and I wondered if the insects would be safe from the Night-Hawks and Whippoorwills.”
“They surely will for that one evening,” said Colonel Claw, “for I’ll send a carrier-pigeon with a note to General Grosbeak this very evening.”