Theimpendingsaleofthesebirdshadbeenthemosttryingsuspenseofthewholeafternoon。TheywereSue’spets，andwhenitwasfoundthattheycouldnotpossiblybekept，moresadnesswascausedthanbypartingfromallthefurniture。Suetriedtothinkawayhertearsassheheardthetriflingsumthatherdearsweredeemedtobeworthadvancedbysmallstagestothepriceatwhichtheywerefinallyknockeddown。Thepurchaserwasaneighbouringpoulterer，andtheywereunquestionablydoomedtodiebeforethenextmarketday。
NotingherdissembleddistressJudekissedher，andsaiditwastimetogoandseeifthelodgingswereready。Hewouldgoonwiththeboy，andfetchhersoon。
Whenshewasleftaloneshewaitedpatiently，butJudedidnotcomeback。Atlastshestarted，thecoastbeingclear，andonpassingthepoulterer’sshop，notfaroff，shesawherpigeonsinahamperbythedoor。
Anemotionatsightofthem，assistedbythegrowingduskofevening，causedhertoactonimpulse，andfirstlookingaroundherquickly，shepulledoutthepegwhichfasteneddownthecover，andwenton。Thecoverwasliftedfromwithin，andthepigeonsflewawaywithaclatterthatbroughtthechagrinedpoulterercursingandswearingtothedoor。
Suereachedthelodgingtrembling，andfoundJudeandtheboymakingitcomfortableforher。`Dothebuyerspaybeforetheybringawaythethings？’sheaskedbreathlessly。