“And that is the end of the story, your majesty,” said the lovely Pussyanita. “And a good end,” said King Grimalkum. “I knew I should like the story. Is it truly the silliest story that ever was?” “Yes, your majesty,” replied Pussyanita. “The silliest, I mean, of our kind of stories. Of course it is not as silly as the stories the little tadpoles told the little rats.”
“Were the stories the little tadpoles told the little rats, sillier than the ones the little rats told the little tadpoles?” asked the king.
“Much sillier,” replied Pussyanita.
“Tell them,” said the king.
“But your majesty,” replied Pussyanita, “there were swarms of little tadpoles and I have not long to live.”
“You shall live as long as you can, you lovely creature!” cried the king. “Do you think I would put an end to the life of a sweet young story-teller who can tell both common sense stories and not common sense stories? No! Live! Live and be happy!”
“Alas!” replied the lovely Pussyanita. “I cannot be happy when so many of my kind are in danger. Oh, take back your cruel command! Let our whole race live!”
“I do take it back,” answered the king. “For your sake the whole race shall live.”