"Four," answered Fred; "but one was a naughty bird, and his parents had a great deal of trouble with him. The other was a little darling; but after these went away, and did not come back, she pined, and at last the old robins flew away with her."
Annie then related how Molly was fastened to the nest.
The whole party of children were standing about eagerly listening. "Well," said the gentleman, "I will close the doors of the room and open the cage. If they fly to you, or seem in any way to recognize you, I will restore your property."
"And the cage too," said the lady.
"Birdie, birdie," called the little girl.
Katy hopped quickly from her perch, and flying over the heads of the others, alighted on Annie's shoulder.
Jack quickly followed, and perched on her head.
"If you will please give me some crumbs," said the happy girl, tears of joy standing in her eyes, "I will show you how they eat from my mouth."
"Here, birdie," she cried, placing a piece between her teeth.
Jack alighted on her finger, then flew forward and caught the crumb in his beak, after which both he and his sister repeated the feat many times.