“Yes,” replied Royal. “The monkey gave the signal, and they all came upon the man together,—branches, birds, squirrels, and monkey,—and with such a screaming, chirruping, chattering, and fluttering, that the man was frightened away out of the woods; and he did not dare to come back until the next day, even to get his coat.”
Lucy smiled a little at this ingenious plan formed by the monkey, and then, after a moment’s pause, she asked,—
“Is that an extravagant story, Royal?”
“Yes,” said Royal, “I think that is extravagant enough.”
“Well,” rejoined Lucy, “I like it pretty well.
“And now have you told me all the kinds of stories?”
“Yes, I believe so,” replied Royal.
“No,” added Lucy, “you have not told me any true story. Just tell me one true story, and that will be all.”
“Well,” replied Royal, “let me consider.—Well. Once there was a little girl, and she was going of an errand for her mother.”
“What was her name?” asked Lucy.