“I suppose you’re going to the concert,” said Mr. Grasshopper, after waiting a second for Ruth to finish her sentence.
“Concert?” she repeated, opening her eyes wide. “What concert?”
“Why the Straightwings’ Concert. They give one every sunny day in Summer. Didn’t you know that? Dear me, where were you hatched and where have you been living since? Well, why do you stare at me so? Don’t you like my looks?”
“Oh, yes,” Ruth hastened to answer. “You look very nice—something like a little old man.”
“I’ve heard that before, and there’s a story about it. Shall I tell it?”
“Yes, please; I just love stories.”
“Very well. Once upon a time, long, long ago, there lived in Greece a beautiful young man named Tithonus. Now it chanced that Tithonus loved Aurora, the Goddess of the Dawn.”
“Greece?” said Ruth. “Why, that’s where Arachna lived, the one who turned into a spider, you know?”
“Do you want to hear my story or don’t you?” asked Mr. Grasshopper, sharply.
“I do want to hear it. I really do.”