“She then gave me some water, which I found very refreshing, and presently after, one of her sisters coming into the room, I learnt her intentions respecting myself. ‘See, Lucy,’ said she, ‘what a treasure I have.’ ‘A goldfinch! Where did you get it?’ ‘In a manner so extraordinary, that I shall not easily be prevailed on to part with it. Though I am much averse to slavery, and should not like to keep it entirely a prisoner, yet, as it came to me for protection, I should be unwilling to expose it again to the danger it so lately escaped.’ “She then related the manner of my coming to her, and observed, that she supposed some bird of prey had pursued me. ‘Well,’ said Lucy, ‘and what do you intend to do with it?’ ‘I shall keep it in a cage till it becomes familiar; I shall accustom it to eat out of my hand, and when I have tamed it a little, I shall frequently let it out.’ ‘I like your plan, my dear Sophy, and trust that it will be the means of assisting our endeavours to restore your health. How we shall all love the little bird, if it adds to your happiness!’ ‘Oh! do not think of my health,’ returned Sophy, ‘you know I mean to get quite well soon.’ ‘Do so, my beloved sister,’ said Lucy, with a faint smile; but her countenance expressed no hope that her sister’s prediction would be verified. I even observed a tear trembling in her eye: to conceal it she hastily left the room, saying she would look for a cage. “You, perhaps, think that the prospect of a cage terrified me, but I was now less satisfied with my liberty than at first, since I found that there were dangers and misfortunes attending it, of which I had not dreamt when in captivity: besides, I was shunned by my own species, and led a solitary life, which was extremely irksome to me; so that, upon the whole, I was not dissatisfied at becoming the companion of the interesting Sophia, of whom I shall now give you some account.