“What did I do?” asked Girlie.
“You nodded your head; it’s a very dangerous thing to do; you might turn into a Mandarin,” said the Calf.
“What is that?” asked Girlie, who couldn’t remember having heard the name before, though it seemed familiar too.
“Any one who cannot say ‘no’ is a Mandarin,” said the Calf; “the worst kind are the Chinese, who are born with a wire through their necks, so that they can only move their heads in one direction.”
“Oh, I know! You mean little figures that nod their heads when you touch them,” cried Girlie. “I remember now, I saw one in a toyshop the other day. They are made of china, aren’t they?”
“Of course,” said the Calf, “all the Chinese are made of china, just as all the Japanese are japanned. There is a song about a Mandarin that ought to be a warning to people not to nod their heads. Shall I repeat it?” he asked.
“Oh yes, please,” replied Girlie.
“O-o-o-b, o-o-o-b, o-o-o-b, stop a biddit,” said the Fish, putting away his fishing-rod and wobbling awkwardly towards them. “Led be hear id, too.”
“Oh, you’ve heard it before,” said the Calf; “get on with your fishing.”
“O-o-o-b, o-o-o-b, o-o-o-b, I’ve odely heard id dide tibes,” said the Fish pleadingly.