“Four and a nought,” said Girlie promptly.
“And what does nought stand for?” asked the Crow.
“Nothing,” replied Girlie.
“Well, then, what’s the use of making a fuss about nothing?” said the Crow; “and, besides, if you’re not a Pig, prove it by perching properly.”
Girlie felt that she ought to do something to show them that she really was not a Pig, so she drew her feet up under her and tried to sit as much like the Owl as she could. She felt dreadfully uncomfortable, however, and was afraid every moment that she should fall to the ground. “Oh, I really can’t do it any longer,” she said after a little while, resuming her former position.
The Owl and the Crow looked at each other meaningly.
“‘PRECISELY,’ HE REPLIED.”
“I said she was,” nodded the Crow, “and that settles it. Now let’s go to sleep, or we shall have the Watchman catching us talking,” and he took off his spectacles and tucked them under one wing, and then, popping his head under the other, was soon fast asleep.
Girlie nestled up as close to the Owl as she could for he looked so soft and warm, and, resting her head cosily against his fluffy feathers, was soon asleep herself. Perhaps it was because of the strange position in which she was sleeping, but certainly from some cause or other, she had a most alarming dream. She thought that she had fallen from the tree and couldn’t get up again, and that the Watchman (who seemed to be a dreadful old man with an enormously long nose, wearing a long coat with ever so many little capes to it, and carrying a lantern in one hand and an immense extinguisher in the other) came along and found her sitting there. He seemed to be very angry that she was not asleep, and, crying out in a loud voice, “Lights out,” popped the great extinguisher over her head. Girlie felt half-suffocated and was just wondering whether she would really go out like a candle, and was thinking that she should know now what people meant when they spoke about being very much put out, when she suddenly awoke and found, to her great relief, that it was only a dream. It was broad daylight again and the Crow had disappeared, carrying Girlie’s pocket-handkerchief away with him.