Parrots like fingers very much." Olly put his hands behind his back in a great hurry, and mother came to stand behind him to keep him quiet.

By this time, however, Polly had begun to find out that there were some new people in the room he didn't know, and for a long time Aunt Emma could not make him talk at all.

He would do nothing but put his head first on one side and then on the other and make angry clicks with his beak.
"Come, Polly," said Aunt Emma, "what a cross parrot you are.
One--two--three--four.

Now, Polly, count." "Polly's got a bad cold, fetch the doc--" said Polly again while Aunt Emma was speaking.

"One--two--six--seven--eight--nine--two--_Quick_ march!" And then Polly began to lift first one claw and then the other as if he were marching, while the children shouted with laughter at his ridiculous ways and his gruff cracked voice.
Then Aunt Emma went behind him and rapped gently on the table.