‘I was,’ whispered the giraffe.
‘Then how did you get there?’ said David.
‘I didn’t. I’m on the ground floor all the time, and I can feel them running about among my legs. Only my head went upstairs in order to brush its hair. That’s another surprise; you never thought of that! But I didn’t see you jump when I told you. Shall I jump you?’
‘No. I think I’ll stop where I am,’ said David.
‘Very well. I’ll tell you another thing too. Some animals are so short that they have to go down to the cellar to tie their bootlaces. I should think you were one of that sort, aren’t you?’
‘Indeed I’m not,’ said David indignantly. ‘I’m tall enough to tie my bootlaces anywhere.’
The giraffe’s head gave a great jerk.
‘I jumped at that, you see,’ it said. ‘That was a real jumping surprise. I should never have guessed it.’
David looked up at the mild silly head above him. Certainly it looked surprised, but all giraffes did that.
‘I live on surprises,’ said the giraffe. ‘If I can’t get a proper supply of them my eyebrows come down.’