mr. goldfinch thought that there was never a bird who had a prettier, dearer, or harder-working little wife than he, and he would wonder how he was ever happy before he knew her. that is a way that people have of forgetting the days that are past; and the truth is that mr. goldfinch had made fun of the robins and other birds all spring, because they had to build nests and hunt worms for their babies, while he had nothing to do but sing and sleep and feed himself. in those days the robins used to call after him as he flew away, "silly fellow! silly fellow! silly!"