Norman tried to cry out, to ask the birds not to be so angry with him. Just then he heard another voice saying—
“My dear Norman, you are sleeping very uncomfortably with your head on the table, let me put you on the sofa. Your papa will soon be here, and after a little rest you will look fresh and ready to receive him.”
Norman lifted up his head and saw his mamma leaning over him.
The cage was gone, and the branch with all the birds on it had disappeared. He looked round, expecting to see the angry little bird at the back of his chair, but that had gone also, and he found, greatly to his relief, that he had been dreaming.
He told his mamma what he had seen.
“It was all your fancy, Norman,” she answered, “you were over-excited and tired. I will sit by you and take care that the birds do not come back again.”
His mamma placed him on the sofa and sat down by his side.
Norman was very soon again fast asleep, but the birds did not return, he only heard Fanny’s sweet voice telling him how much she loved him, and wished to forgive him all the harm he had done. He awoke much refreshed and happier than he had been for a long time.
“Here is papa! here is Captain Vallery!” he heard several voices exclaim.
Directly afterwards Captain Vallery entered the drawing-room with his mamma and Fanny who had run out to meet him. Norman jumped up from the sofa.