The doves are not afraid of Ursula. They know she loves them, for she
feeds them every day, and is always kind.
Do you see that one at her feet? He is looking up into her face. He
wishes to stand on her hand and eat from it; but one dove already covers
her hand, and there is not room for another.
The dove that has just taken a drink from the water-lily bowl is looking
at her too. He will hop on to her shoulder pretty soon. He knows she
often has a little piece of bread in her mouth, and if he gives her a
kiss—the kind doves give—he will find a bit of bread in his bill.
Sometimes a dove will fly to the top of Ursula’s head and peck at her
hair. That is their way of giving love-pats. They stay near her as long
as they can. When she leaves them, they fly to their dove-cots.
When they hear her voice in the garden, they fly to her, even if she
does not call. And whenever she calls they always come. If Ursula were
not kind and good to them, the doves would not love her.
[Illustration]