"The raven cannot help being pleased," she said, as she carried the boots toward the home tree. "I wonder if he is in!"
As she drew near the owl heard the raven calling her name. Answering loudly, she hurried to the place where he waited. But before the raven saw her she hid the whalebone boots among the grasses, that she might surprise him later.
She found the raven hopping impatiently about and calling loudly.
"Here—here I am!" she cried. "I have been away for but a short time—but you were away for days!"
"Oh, owl, dear," replied the raven, "though I have been absent I have thought only of you!
"See! here is a beautiful new dress which I have made for you!" And the raven spread before his friend a beautiful dress of dappled black and white.
It was made of the softest, most beautiful feathers, lovely enough to delight the heart of any bird.
"Oh, how very beautiful!" cried the owl. "How kind you are to me! How did you ever think of anything so lovely?"
The raven smiled, well pleased with himself.
"Try it on," he said. "I am sure it will become you. I am certain that when you see how lovely you look, you will never again wish to wear anything but black and white."