while the two girl children sat with forefingers still on their mouths.
'What did 'e come out of?' Kate asked.
'That door,' Albert said.
'And then they were in great peril every mortal one,' Miss Swift continued.
'And oh Edith,' Miss Evelyn announced, 'we've been watching the doves they are so funny.'
'I shouldn't pay attention if I was you dear.'
'Why shouldn't I pay attention?'
'Not if I was you I shouldn't.'
'Why shouldn't I?' Miss Evelyn asked.
'Because they're very rum them birds,' Kate said also whispering.
'Why are they rum?' Miss Moira asked.
'I'll say they're rum,' Albert announced. 'One of the old 'uns shoved a young bird and 'e fell down right on 'is nut.'
'Well I never,' Kate remarked to Edith. They watched that dovecote over the children's heads.
'Sssh,' said Edith watching rapt. The children turned. There were so many doves they hardly knew which way to look.
'And then there came a time when this wicked tempting bird came to her father to ask her hand,' Miss Swift said, passing a dry tongue over dry lips, shuteyed.
'It don't seem right not out in the open,' Kate mentioned casual.
'And again over there too and there,' said Edith.
'Where?' cried Miss Evelyn too loud though not sharp enough as she thought to interrupt Miss Swift. The nanny just put a hand on her arm while she droned.
'Oh what are they doing then?' Miss Moira cried.
'They're kissing love,' Kate answered low.
'Hush dear,' said Edith.
'But where Kate I don't see. Oh look at those two oh look she's got her head right down his beak, she's going to strangle him,' and Moira's voice rose 'Nanny nanny stop it quick.'
'Good gracious child what's this?'
But the children had got up and as they rose every dove was apart once more and on the wing, filling the air with sighing.
'Why now Edith and Kate whatever do you think you're about?'
'We've just finished our dinner,' Kate replied.
'Wandering all over the grounds where anyone might see. Who's ever heard?' the nanny said. 'Sit down children and you Albert. If you're going to stay with us you'll do as you're told.'
'Yes'm.'
'Well we're accustomed to let our dinner settle,' Kate said.
'And I make no doubt you use that to get away of an afternoon and let the work look after itself. You'll have Miss Burch after you.'
'Come away, dear,' Edith said to Kate.
'Doves kissing indeed,' Miss Swift called surprisingly after their backs, 'stuff and nonsense. That's the mother feeding her little one dears If you sit quiet enough you'll see for yourselves,' she said to the children. 'And now where was I?'
'You were at that bit where the kind old father says he can marry her 'cause he's getting too old to know better.'
'Well now that's right,' Miss Swift began once more and the
doves, spiralling down in the funnel made by trees which were coming out all over in a yellow green through chestnut sheaths the colour of a horse's coat, settled one after another each outside the door to his quarters and after strutting once or twice went on quarrelling, murdering and making love again. 'So then not knowing any better he let him have her hand,' the nanny said.
Breathless the children watched this leaning tower. Very soon one white dove was crouching with opened beak before another with stuck-out chest. Not long after that they were at it once more and the fat bird, grown thin now, had his head deep down the other's neck which was swallowing in frantic gulps that shook its crescent body. Elsewhere another bird trundled an egg to the edge. Yet another chased a fifth to a corner until it fluttered over behind where these two began again. In pairs they advanced and retreated. Then one more small mass fell without a thud, pink.
'There y'are,' said Albert.
'Where? I didn't see. Oh I've missed again,' Evelyn said. 'Did you?' to Moira.
'You're none of you listening you naughty children,' the nanny said. 'Here's poor nanny wasting her breath and you don't pay attention. We'd better get on with our walk if you