`` How was that , ma'am ? '' `` Why , my dear , a gentleman came hither with me , and after we had been here some time , he wanted to marry -- in fact , he actually proposed to me . Well , I ca n't blame him ; I was young , and very handsome then , I do n't deny : but you see , I could not hear of such a thing , because he was my deceased sister 's husband , you see ? '' `` Of course not , ma'am , '' said Tom ; though , of course , he knew nothing about it . `` She was very much diseased , I suppose ? '' `` You do not understand me , my dear . I mean , that being a lady , and with right and honourable feelings , as our house always has had , I felt it my duty to snub him , and howk him , and peck him continually , to keep him at his proper distance ; and , to tell the truth , I once pecked him a little too hard , poor fellow , and he tumbled backwards off the rock , and -- really , it was very unfortunate , but it was not my fault -- a shark coming by saw him flapping , and snapped him up . And since then I have lived all alone - ` With a fal-lal-la-lady . ' And soon I shall be gone , my little dear , and nobody will miss me ; and then the poor stone will be left all alone . '' `` But , please , which is the way to Shiny Wall ? '' said Tom . `` Oh , you must go , my little dear -- you must go . Let me see -- I am sure -- that is -- really , my poor old brains are getting quite puzzled . Do you know , my little dear , I am afraid , if you want to know , you must ask some of these vulgar birds about , for I have quite forgotten . '' And the poor old Gairfowl began to cry tears of pure oil ; and Tom was quite sorry for her ; and for himself too , for he was at his wit 's end whom to ask . But by there came a flock of petrels , who are Mother Carey 's own chickens ; and Tom thought them much prettier than Lady Gairfowl , and so perhaps they were ; for Mother Carey had had a great deal of fresh experience between the time that she invented the Gairfowl and the time that she invented them . They flitted along like a flock of black swallows , and hopped and skipped from wave to wave , lifting up their little feet behind them so daintily , and whistling to each other so tenderly , that Tom fell in love with them at once , and called them to know the way to Shiny Wall . `` Shiny Wall ? Do you want Shiny Wall ? Then come with us , and we will show you .
We are Mother XXXXX 's own chickens , and she sends us out over all the seas , to show the good birds the way home . ''
Carey Gairfowl Tom Wall course feelings left petrels right shark