"I guess I've a riddle about a rat," said Laddie after a pause.
"What is it?" asked Russ. "I can guess it, easy."
"No, you can't!" declared his brother.
"I can so!"
"You can not!"
"Well, let's hear it," demanded Russ.
"It's when is a rat not a rat?" asked Laddie. "That's the riddle. When is a rat not a rat?"
"It's always a rat," said Rose.
"Do you mean when a cat is after him?" asked Russ, trying to guess the riddle.
"No," answered Laddie. "That isn't it. I'll give you another guess."