"It is a silly name," said the Nowhere Man. "Where did you find it?"
"I don't know," answered the other; "it just sounds to me like the bird."
By this time it was clear that the two men did not play the game by the same rules, but they went on playing, just as other people do.
They saw a little thatched house beside the brook. "Beastly hovel," said the first man. "Pretty cottage," said the second.
A woman was tossing and fondling her child, with kiss-words. "Sickly sentiment," said the first man. "Mother love," said the second.
They passed a youth sleeping on the grass under a tree. "Lazy hound!" said the first man. "Happy dog!" said the second.
Now the third man, remembering that he was a philosopher, concluded that he was wasting his imaginary time in hearing this endless old game.
"I must bid you good-day, gentlemen," said he, "for it seems to me that you are disputing only about appearances, and are not likely to arrive Somewhere or Anywhere. But I am seeking das Ding an sich."
So he left them, and went on his way Nowhere. And I know not which of the others won the game, but I think the second man had more pleasure in playing it.
