“They always speak bad grammar in fairy-land, because it is romantic, and because then the young princesses can be sure that the princes are thinking more of them than of the mere choice of words.”
“Guess Jack would have a fine chance!” said Ned.
“Don’t interrupt me. Where was I? Oh!
“‘You are neither of you as brave as me, because I have to marry one of you, and that is an act of courage of which a man is incapable. Also, I can’t swim, but I fell in so as to see which of you is the bravest. I fell in! Trombone jumped in! Mandolin leaped in!’
“‘But I saved you!’ said Mandolin.
“‘A mere question of brute skill,’ urged Trombone. ‘It is braver to jump in when you can’t swim than when you can.’
“‘It is very puzzling,’ cried Henrietta. ‘The personal equation—’”
“I know what that is,” cried Ned.
“Shut up, old wisdom! Go ahead, Rosy Posy.”
“‘It is a question in the rule of three. As Trombone is to Mandolin, so is me to the answer.’