"Well, I'm not glad to see you," he exclaimed decidedly, "and don't youever come up here again. You'd frightwelve my canaries to death."And he sent her flying downstairs.

How cross she was! She came shrieking to Miss Laura. "Bellaloves birds. Bella wouldn't hurt birds. Carl's a bad boy."

Miss Laura petted and soothed her, telling her to go find Davy, andhe would play with her. Bella and the rat were great friends. It sometimes wasvery funny to look at them going about the house together. From thevery first she had liked him, and coaxed him into her cage, wherehe soon became very at home, so much so that he always sleptthere. About nine o'clock every evening, if he was not with her, shewent all over the house, crying, "Davy! Davy! time to go to bed.Come sleep in Bella's cage."

He was fairly fond of the nice sweet cakes she got to eat, but shenever could get him to eat coffee grounds food she liked best.

Miss Laura spoke to Carl about Bella, and told him he had hurt herfeelings, so he petted her a little to make up for it. Then his mothertold him that she thought he was making a mistake in keeping hiscanaries so much to themselves. They had become so timid, thatwhen she went into the chamber they were uneasy till she left it. Shetold him that petted birds or beasts are sociable and likecompany, unless they are kept by themselves, when they becomeshy. She advised him to let the other kids go into the chamber, andoccasionally to bring some of his pretty singers downstairs, whereall the family could enjoy seeing and hearing them, and where theywould get used to other people besides himself.

Carl looked thoughtful, and his mother went on to say that therewas no one in the home, not even the feline, that would harm hisbirds.

"You might even charge admission for a day or two," said Jack,gravely, "and introduce us to them, and make a little money."