Why does the young man spend several nights at Mrs. Tilley’s cottage?

The young man is on a quest to find the elusive white
heron, and has enjoyed hunting for various bird specimens in the forest. The stranger
has been engrossed in his hunt, and has lost his way in the forest as a
result.

Speak
up and tell me what your name is, and whether you think I can spend the night at your
house, and go out gunning early in the
morning.

It is fortuitous for
him that he meets Sylvia, as her grandmother, Mrs.Tilley, is welcoming to the stranger.
He is surprised at the pleasing condition of their modest country home, described
as-

clean and
comfortable little
dwelling.

The stranger is
also intrigued to hear of Sylvia’s skill and knowledge with the animals. When Mrs Tilley
tells him-

the
wild creaturs counts her one o’
themselves.

He realizes her
potential in being able to help him track the mysterious white heron, so he spends
several nights at her cottage.

So Sylvy knows all about
birds, does she?