Bates was in as dire need of the man he received so unwillingly as ever man was in need of his fellow-man.

It is when the fetter of solitude has begun to eat into a man's flesh that he begins to proclaim his indifference to it, and the human mind is never in such need of companionship as when it shuns companions.
The two spent most of the evening endeavouring to restore to liveliness the birds that Trenholme had taken from his pockets, and in discussing them.

Bates produced a very old copy of a Halifax newspaper which contained a sonnet to this bird, in which the local poet addressed it as "The Sunset-tinted grosbeak of the north" Trenholme marvelled at his resources.

Such newspapers as he stored up were kept under the cushion of the old aunt's armchair.
Bates brought out some frozen cranberries for the birds.

They made a rough coop and settled them in it outside, in lee of one of the sheds.
It is extraordinary how much time and trouble people will expend on such small matters if they just take it into their heads to do it..