“I wonder if it would be any harm to take it?” she said wistfully.
“I don’t think so. I saw Beatrice throw it there the other day, and she said she was tired of playing with it.”
“I might take it for the monkey,” said Billie, with such a funny face that I burst out laughing at her.
With a roll of her eyes at me, she seized it in her mouth and went trotting home with it.
I flew along with her. I had to get back into the bird-room, for I did not dare to stay downstairs while that bad monkey was about.
Now, as we reached the house a very strange thing happened. It seems that Mrs. Martin had not understood my going back to the bird-room. She thought that I might be seeking a little playmate there, being disappointed that she had not got me one.
Wishing to keep me downstairs, she had hurriedly gone next door and bought the little lonely canary Daisy from the lodging house lady.
There she was, our dear Missie, walking along with the cage in her hand, and at first, forgetting about the monkey, I was overjoyed.
I flew right to her. “Daisy! Daisy!” I cried in delight, as I stared down at the pretty little creature inside the cage who was tremblingly looking up at me. She knew me, but she was frightened of the street and the noises.
“Why, Dicky, you are talking!” exclaimed Mrs. Martin. “Say that again, my pretty one.”