If I've hit it wrong now and then, the fault was mine, not theirs.

I had failed to properly interpret their actions, that was all." So he went on to tell Hugh many deeply interesting experiments he had undertaken along those lines.

He also had a fund of wonderful anecdotes, many of them quite humorous, connected with his little friends of fur and feather.
The more Hugh heard him tell the greater grew his interest.

He resolved that at some time in the not distant future, when an opportunity came along, he, too, would begin to pay more attention to the multitude of interesting things that could be discovered in almost any woods, if only the observer kept his eyes about him, and did nothing to alarm the timid inmates of various burrows and hollow trees.
So an hour passed, all too quickly.
Once Hugh took out his little nickel watch, as if under the impression that it must be getting near time for him to think of saying good-night; though he hated to leave such a jolly fireside, and the fine couple.
"Please don't think of going home yet, Hugh," said the old man, looking distressed at once.

"The night is young, and I don't know when I've enjoyed anyone's company as I have yours.