“I once stayed with the Ichthyosaurus,” said the Dodo. “It may have been there.”
“Ah, that must have been it,” said the Palæotherium. “I met a curious lot of people there—very mixed lot of associates he had, to be sure.”
“Ahem,” said the Dodo, indignantly. “I hope you don’t mean that I——”
“My dear Sir,” replied the other, “I’m quite sure you are highly respectable; your gloves alone are a guarantee for that.”
“Thanks,” said the Dodo, looking quite happy again.
“Do you know any riddles?” asked the Eterædarium, suddenly, addressing Dick.
“Let’s see,” said he, glad that the conversation had taken a turn which they could all understand. “I think I do know a few. Why is a robin like a waterbut?”
“First of all,” said the Archæopteryx, anxiously, “what is a robin, and who is a waterbut?”
“Oh, a robin,” explained Marjorie, “is a dear little bird with a red breast that comes in the winter——”
“Stop! stop!” said the Palæotherium, “one thing at a time. What is a bird?”