Meanwhile the Master of Ceremonies was bidden to announce that their distinguished visitor, the Rainbow Cat, had kindly promised to sing a song, and wished to know whether the guests would like to hear it at this moment or later on.
This was a very clever idea, for of course people were bound in politeness to say they wished to hear the song immediately.
Thereupon the Rainbow Cat took his mandolin and prepared to sing, the whole company being requested to join in the chorus after each verse.
They were all delighted with this suggestion, and they all sang, whether they had any voice or not.
They enjoyed it so much that they quite forgot that they hadn’t finished the banquet. At least they almost forgot.
Here is the song:
THE RHYME OF THE GNOME WITH A SCOLDING WIFE
Once upon a time,
When guinea-pigs had tails,
And people talked in rhyme,