"Like what?" said Ned.
"Like this," said Phaeton; "this is as good an example as any. You see, he couldn't say 'seven eighths of a mile and three rods over,' because that would be too long."
"That would be the exact distance," said Ned.
"I mean it would make this line too long," said Phaeton; "and, besides, it has to rhyme with that other line, which ends with the word style."
"And if that other line ended with cheek, would he have to call it a league from the Four Corners to Lyell street?" said Ned.
"I suppose so," said Phaeton, "though it wouldn't be a very good rhyme."
"And is that considered all right?"
"I believe it is."
"Then you can't depend upon a single statement in any poem," said Ned.
"Oh, yes, you can," said Phaeton—"a great many."