“Oh, I’ve heard of people fishing for compliments before,” thought Girlie. “Has he caught anything?” she asked.
“Yes,” said the Calf, grinning.
“What?” asked Girlie eagerly.
“Same as most folks do that go fishing—a cold,” replied the Calf.
“Oh dear! where did he catch it?” asked Girlie.
“In his head, to be sure,” said the Calf; “he is very subject to them; I think it’s being in the water so much,” he continued; “he gets frightfully damp sometimes when he’s been swimming about all day. It’s a great pity, too, for he is going to lecture at Why this afternoon before the Wallypug on the ‘Whichness of the What, as compared to the Thatness of the Thus.’ Shall you be there?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” said Girlie dubiously; “I want to go to Why, though,” she said. “Can you direct me?”
“Oh yes!” replied the Calf. “Do you know anybody there?”
Girlie, thinking that Dumpsey Deazil must have gone there, nodded her head.
“Oh, don’t do that,” cried the Calf in a tone of alarm, while the Fish turned slowly round and stared at her again.