"Perhaps I'd better sit down and 'splain all about it," remarked Bertie, feeling that the subject was too important to be hastily discussed. "Take a seat, boy;" and the Professor waved his hand vaguely, as if he did not know much about any chair but his own old one, with the stuffing bursting out, and ink spots everywhere. As all the chairs had books and papers piled up in them, Bertie, with great presence of mind, sat down upon an immense dictionary that lay near by, and with a hand on either knee, thus briefly explained himself: "My mamma said that you were very wise, and could read seven langwitches, so I thought you would please tell me what Cocky Twitters says." "Is Twitters a bird or a boy?" asked the Professor, as if bewildered by what seemed a very simple affair to innocent Bertie. At this question, the boy burst forth into an eager recital of his acquaintance with the sparrows, giving a little bounce on the fat dictionary now and then when he got excited, while his rosy face shone with an eagerness that was irresistible. The Professor listened as if to a language which he had almost forgotten, while the ghost of a smile began to flicker over his lips, and peer out from behind his glasses, as if somewhere about him there was a heart that tried to welcome the little guest, who came tapping at the long-closed door. When Bertie ended, out of breath, Mr. P. said, slowly, while he looked about as if to find something he had lost,--"I understand now, but I'm afraid I've forgotten all I ever knew about birds,--and boys too," he added, with an odd twinkle of the glasses. "Couldn't you _reccomember_ if you tried hard, sir?" "I don't think I could." Bertie gave a great sigh, and cast a reproachful glance upon the Professor, which said as plainly as words, "You must have been a _very_ idle man to live among books till you are gray, and not know a simple thing like this." I think Mr. P. understood that look, and felt ashamed of his sad ignorance; for he rose up and went walking about the room, poking into corners and peering up at the books that lined the walls, till he found a large volume, and brought it to Bertie, who still sat despondently upon the dictionary. "Perhaps this will help us. It tells much about birds, and the tales are all true."