"You never are," said the Lion.
"That's true," said his wife. "Well, here! children! come along and see the Tame Humans."
The young cubs came rolling in, all tumbling over one another, like jolly little brutes as they were, and set up a wild roar of delight at hearing they were going out for the day. When they got half way, the Lion suddenly stopped and considered.
"I think," said he, "as we are going to change places with the humans, we ought to have all the fine things they used to have, so we'll buy some clothes."
"All right, my dear," said the Lioness.
So they went into a shop, which they found belonged to a very civil elephant. They were quickly fitted out with nice suits, and then trotted contentedly on. A large crowd of beasts and birds was going the same way, and at the door it was hard to get in. The greatest excitement prevailed—which means, you know, that people—animals, I mean—were laughing and talking, and wondering, and squeezing, and pushing, and treading on one another's toes, and saying "Where are you shoving to?" and "There's plenty of room," and "Don't be disagreeable," and "Don't lose your temper, pray," and asking questions, and all that kind of thing. The Lion and his wife were afraid to take in the children, so left them outside with an old Cow, who was herself too frightened to venture, and too fat to squeeze through the throng. Inside, the animals were all staring their hardest. The humans in the cages didn't at all relish being shown, and were very cross. A Wolf with a long stick was telling about all their ways, and poking them up to make them roar. One young man in a blue coat howled with rage, until a good-natured old Rhinoceros, with a red shawl, threw him a bun. He was so ungrateful as to kick it out of his cage, which offended the old Rhinoceros, as you may imagine.
"Times are changed, ain't they?" said a jolly old Bear to the Lion, chuckling.
"Quite time too," answered the Lion.
The Ostrich craned his long neck, and stared as hard as he could, as did all the animals. The Lioness was very well pleased, but she hurried out to see after her children, while the Lion stayed to have a good look. In fact, there never had been such a sight seen in Beastland before, and I don't suppose there ever will be such a one again.