Page:Bambi A Life in the Woods (1928).pdf/65

Faline was the first to break silence. were they?” she cried.

“Who But her pert little voice trembled.

“Who were they?” Gobo repeated in a hardly audible voice. Bambi kept silent.

Aunt Ena said solemnly, “Those were your fathers.”

Nothing more was said, and they parted. Aunt Ena led her children into the nearest thicket. It was her trail. Bambi and his mother had to cross the whole meadow to the oak in order to reach their own path. He was silent for a long time before he finally asked, “Didn’t they see us?”

His mother understood what he meant and replied, “Of course, they saw all of us.”

Bambi was troubled. He felt shy about asking questions, but it was too much for him. “Then why. . . .” he began, and stopped.

His mother helped him along. ‘What is it you want to know, son?” she asked.

“Why didn’t they stay with us?”

“They don’t ever stay with us,” his mother answered, “only at times.”

Bambi continued, “But why didn’t they speak to use”