If he did not, it might look as if he were not taking an interest.

He would rather ask too many questions than run the risk of seeming inappreciative.
"_Why_ were there only two young ones in the nest in the pine tree ?" he inquired.
It was very hard to know sometimes just what would please Uncle Andy, and what wouldn't.

But this time it was quite all right.
"Now, that's a proper, sensible question," said he.

"I was just coming to that.

You see, there ought to have been four youngsters in that nest, too, for there had been four greeny-blue, brown-spotted eggs to start with.