They did so, but the other ducks did not seem glad to see them.
"Look!" they cried. "Here comes another brood, as if there were not enough of us already. And oh, dear, how ugly that large one is! We won't stand him."
Then one of the ducks flew at the ugly duckling and bit him in the neck.
"Let him alone," said the mother; "he is doing no harm."
"Perhaps not," said the duck who had bitten the poor duckling, "but he is too ugly to stay here. He must be driven out."
"Those are pretty children that the mother has," said the old duck with the rag around her leg. "They are all pretty but that one. What a pity!"
"Yes," replied the mother duck, "he is not handsome, but he is good-tempered, and he swims as well as any of the others. I think he will grow to be pretty. Perhaps he stayed too long in the egg."
"Well, make yourselves at home," said the old duck. "If you find an eel's head, you may bring it to me."