“Well, well!” exclaimed Lion as he opened the missive and glanced at its contents, “though addressed in my care it’s really for all of us.”
“Yes, but what is it?” cried the animals.
“Why, a message from the Pretty Lady with the Blue-Blue Eyes. Here is what she says:
“‘Care of Lion,
“‘Menagerie Tent, Spangleland:
“‘I and my White-White Horse will be quite near you at half-past twilight on the morrow. So please be at home, for it is very likely we will pay you a visit.
“‘The Pretty Lady.’”
“Oh, hurrah, hurrah!” shouted all the animals in one breath while Dan clapped his hands with much glee.
“You are, indeed, a most welcome messenger,” remarked Lion, as he turned to where the crow had been standing. But, to his surprise, the somber chap in the cap was no longer there. Instead, he had perched himself on a wheel of Giraffe’s spacious home. Yes, there he sat, once more reading his book, and, in addition, was now slowly munching an apple.
“I say,” repeated Lion, “a most welcome messenger.” And this time he laid so much stress on the very last word that the crow jumped from the wheel in the greatest of haste.