“WHAT A COLOR!” EXCLAIMED THE COCKATOO.
“Headless, or hatless, it’s all the same,” said the Cockatoo, “you might as well run about without your head for all the good it is to you,” she added insolently. “Well you two are escaped prisoners,” she ran on, “and I shall see that you are locked up again, so there.”
“But it was all a mistake,” said His Majesty mildly.
“What was?” yelled the bird.
“What I said about a ’horse a horse, my kingdom for a horse!’ you know,” said the Wallypug.
“Why don’t you say what you mean then?” cried the Cockatoo. “Well, I shall have you locked up anyhow. Here, Crocodile,” she shouted, “just come and arrest these creatures will you?”
“Shan’t!” replied a voice from within; “who are you ordering about. If you want them arrested, do it yourself. I’m not going to do as you tell me, so there! besides, all the prisoners have been set free that Madame sentenced, you know that well enough?”
“Yah! Down with him, down with Crocodiles; down with pale-blue Wallypugs and hatless men; down with fishes of all sorts. Down with everybody and everything; down with——.”
We did not stop to hear any more of her ravings, but passed through and up into the Doctor-in-Law’s old rooms.