“No, I thank you,” said Colonel Claw, “I prefer grasshoppers and caterpillars when I’m hungry.”
“Shall I catch you some?” asked the flower-elf.
“Thank you, no,” said Colonel Claw, “it’s my rule never to breakfast until five o’clock, and I prefer them fresh.”
“Are you very hungry?” asked the flower-elf.
“Yes, very,” said the Colonel, “but I belong to the army, and discipline must be maintained.”
Then Iris-Wing bowed low to Colonel Claw and bade him good evening, saying that he hoped to see him soon at Mount Fern.
When Iris-Wing reached Mount Fern he found that breakfast was ready, and so all the elves sat down and drank the red clover honeydew which he had brought from the apple orchard, with some berries and nuts, which was their usual breakfast fare.
While they sat at the table the flower-elf related all he had seen, and heard, and done that evening. He told the elves that Colonel Claw was in the neighborhood, and had taken up his abode in the mulberry tree. And when he repeated the conversation he had had with that gentleman, Captain Featherweight commanded Lightning, the messenger-elf, to catch some grasshoppers and caterpillars for Colonel Claw just in time for his breakfast.
“Give him my compliments,” said Captain Featherweight, “and tell him that I shall give myself the pleasure of calling upon him tomorrow evening.”
“And I saw the American Beauty Rose,” continued the flower-elf, “and she wants you to give a ball and invite the flowers. She needs to be cheered up. She said she was feeling blue, although she looked very red and rosy.”