“Oh, thank you! thank you! what a dear, sweet, little bird! There is nothing I shall like to have so much, and I hope mamma and granny will allow me to receive it.”
Fanny was so delighted with the gift, that she felt she could not find words enough to thank old Alec for it.
“The gift is a very poor one, but I shall be just as much pleased as you are, if you will receive it,” answered the old man, as he put the cage into Fanny’s hands.
The bird did not seem at all startled or afraid of her, but hopped about from perch to perch, and uttered a few gentle notes, as if it was much pleased at having her for its future mistress.
“But I have kept you waiting a long time outside,” said the old man. “You must come in for a few minutes to rest, before you begin your journey home; and I have got some sweet milk and a fresh bannock—a better one than I had to offer you the other day. You will go back all the merrier for a little food.”
Fanny thought it would please the old man to accept his invitation, and perhaps too, she might be able to get him to tell her and Norman some of the adventures which the laird said he had gone through, so calling to Norman, and holding the cage in her hands, she went into the house.