“Will you mind your own business, and go to sleep?” said Tommy. “I am going; I said I should.”
And back he went. There sat the Old Owl as before.
“Oohoo!” said she, as Tommy climbed up. “What did you see in the mere?”
“I saw nothing but myself,” said Tommy indignantly.
“And what did you expect to see?” asked the Owl.
“I expected to see a Brownie,” said Tommy; “you told me so.”
“And what are Brownies like, pray?” inquired the Owl.
“The one Granny knew was a useful little fellow, something like a little man,” said Tommy.
“Ah!” said the Owl, “but you know at present this one is an idle little fellow, something like a little man. Oohoo! oohoo! Are you quite sure you didn’t see him?”
“Quite,” answered Tommy sharply. “I saw no one but myself.”