Friend Kangaroo,
we know, is of a somewhat serious nature, but probably she will do us the
pleasure of accompanying you to our little entertainment."
"I shall have great pleasure in doing so," said the Kangaroo; "I have not
been to any of your parties for a long time. You know, I suppose, that I
lost my Joey very sadly."
"We heard all about it," replied the Bower Bird in a tone of exaggerated,
almost ridiculous sadness, for it was so anxious that the Kangaroo should
think that it felt very deeply for her loss. "We were in the middle of a
meeting at the time the Wallaby brought the news, and we were so sad that
we nearly broke up our assembly. But it would have been a pity to do so,
really, as the young birds enjoy themselves so much at the 'Bower of
Pleasure'. But," said the Satin Bird, with a sudden change of tone from
extreme sorrow to one of vivacious interest I must show you the way to the
bower, or you would never find it.
Dot jumped down from the swing, and she and the Kangaroo, guided by the
Satin Bird, made their way through some very thickly-grown bush. The bird
was certainly right in saying that they would never have found the Bower
of Pleasure without a guide. It was carefully concealed in the most
densely grown scrub. As they were pushing their way through a thicket of
shrubs, before reaching the open space where the Satin Birds' bower was
built, they beard an increasing noise of birds all talking to one another.
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