But he comforted himself with the thought that he would never have been able to blow it, anyhow, on account of its being so advanced.
"And that's why there were only two young crows in that particular nest.
"But they were an altogether unusual pair, these two.

In the first place, receiving all the food and all the attention that were usually divided among four or five, they had grown and feathered extraordinarily fast, till now they were ready for flight, while their fellows in the neighboring nests were still ragged and 'quilly' looking.

In the second place, they had inherited from their eccentric parents an altogether surprising amount of originality.

Their feathers were beautifully firm and black and glossy, their beaks sharp and polished; and in their full, dark, intelligent eyes there was an impishness that even a crow might regard as especially impish." "What's _impish_ ?" demanded the Babe.
"Goodness me! Don't you know what _impish_ is ?" exclaimed Uncle Andy.
He thought a moment, and then, finding it a little difficult to explain, he added with convenient severity: "If you will listen, you'll find out, perhaps." "Well, the two grew so fast that, before their parents realized at all what precocious youngsters they were, they had climbed out upon the edge of the nest and begun to stretch their fine wings.

With hoarse expostulations their father tried to persuade them back.