“Very well, then, come and sit down,” said the Calf, pointing to where Girlie had settled herself on a little mound beside the road.
The Fish sat down, and, opening his mouth very widely, stared vacantly at the Calf, who repeated the following lines:—
“THE NODDING MANDARIN.
“Oh! it’s sad when you cannot say ‘no’
And your head on a pivot is fixed,
If you have to consent
When a negative’s meant,
Your affairs will get hopelessly mixed.
“And that was the Mandarin’s case,