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 raisins and such things,—and she is sure Nancy takes them."

"Rats! rats!" screamed Mrs. Polly again, so loudly that Mr. Winton exclaimed,—

"What a nuisance that bird is when she screams so! I wonder if she does see a rat! She sticks to it so persistently I shouldn't wonder;" and he rose and looked out of the window. There were no signs of rats there, however; the only living creatures he saw were the little sparrows who had a nest under the eaves of the piazza.

"Well, I must go," he said, as he came back from the window. "Major will think that I have forgotten he is waiting harnessed;" and soon Mrs. Polly and the canary were the only occupants of the dining-room.

"Provoking!" exclaimed Mrs. Polly. "I do think human beings are the stupidest things! Here I told them, as plainly as could be, that the rats stole Posy's necklace