"What! Up hill?" exclaimed the Stone.
"Why not?" asked Twinkle.
"Who ever heard of a stone rolling up hill? It's unnatural!"
"Any stone can roll down hill," said the child. "If you can't roll up hill, you're no better than a common cobble-stone."
"Oh, I can roll up hill if I have to," declared the Stone, peevishly. "But it's hard work, and nearly breaks my back."
"I can't see that you have any back," said Twinkle.
"Why, I'm all back," replied the Stone. "When your back aches, it's only a part of you. But when my back aches, it's all of me except the middle."
"The middle ache is the worst of all," said Twinkle, solemnly. "Well, if you don't want to go," she added, jumping up, "I'll say good-bye."
"Anything to be sociable," said the Stone, sighing deeply. "I'll go along and keep you company. But it's lots easier to roll down than it is to roll up, I assure you!"
