Daddy Longlegs was taken entirely by surprise. It was rather early in the morning. And he had not expected callers—at least not so many as suddenly appeared at the stone wall where he was usually to be found.
Luckily he was arrayed in his very best clothes. Indeed, he was quite smartly dressed—for him. A bright yellow scarf, tied in a big bow beneath his chin, made him look almost dandified. And he was wearing a bottle-green coat, lined with pink.
"Goodness!" said Buster Bumblebee.[p. 116] "He looks like a bridegroom!" But his companions all told him to hush, and not to be disrespectful to his elders.
"Good morning!" said Mr. Chippy to Daddy Longlegs. "We've come to tell you some good news. We're going to call you by a different name. And we hope you'll like it."
"I hope so!" Daddy Longlegs echoed. "What is it, please?"
"It's 'Grandfather Graybeard'!" little Mr. Chippy informed him with an air of pride.
"Why, that's a beautiful name!" Daddy Longlegs cried, as a look of pleasure crossed his face.
"I'm glad you think so," said Mr. Chippy. "It's only fair to tell you that I thought of it myself."
And then he called for "three cheers for Grandfather Graybeard!"
[p. 117]They gave them with a right good will.