mrs. owl could not be gone very long at a time, for there were two large round white eggs in the nest which must not get cold. her husband was on the wing most of the night, and he often flew home with some tender morsel for her. he was really a kind-hearted fellow, although you could never have made the small birds think so. sometimes his wife would sigh and tell how tired she was of sitting still, and how glad she would be when the eggs were hatched and she could go more with him. when she began to speak of that, the great horned owl would get ready for another flight and go off saying: "it is too bad. i am so sorry for you. but then, one would never have young owlets if one didn't stick to the nest." he was always proud of his children, and he thought himself a very good husband. perhaps he was; still he had never taken his place on the nest while his wife went hunting.