“It does my heart good to see you and your brother,” he exclaimed, as he came up.
“Grandfather!” cried Robby, “they have brought me all sorts of nice things—look here, look here!” and Robby led the old man into the cottage that he might exhibit the gifts he had received. “They would not
come in themselves, but said they would wait till you returned. I think the young gentleman would like some of the fruit, for he looked at it when his sister gave it to me. Can I run out and offer it to him? Perhaps, though, he will be offended, for he looks very proud.”
“Yes, Robby, go and give the young gentleman some fruit,” said old Alec, who was at the time turning his eyes towards several cages which hung against the wall, with birds in most of them.
He first looked at one, and then at another and another. At last he selected one neater and prettier than the rest, containing a linnet.
“This will be the thing for the little damsel,” he observed. “If it was made of gold it would not be too good for her.”
Fanny and Norman had still remained outside seated on a bench in the shade. They did not observe Robby, who came back with some of the fruit, intending to bring it to them, but feeling somewhat shy of presenting it, he placed it in the carriage, where he thought they would soon see it.
The old man, going to a window which overlooked the spot where they were seated, called to Fanny.
“Here, my dear young lady; an old man such as I am has but few things which you would care for, but I shall be greatly pleased if you will accept this little bird and its cage. Hang it up in your room where it can enjoy sunlight and air, and if you feed it and give it water regularly, it will sing sweetly to you in the morning and at all times of the day.”