"Mr. Richmond says so; he says people have found out that it is so. But he don't seem to me very big, Norton, for that."
The keeper explained, that the animal was a young one and but half grown.
"How tremendously ugly he is!" said Norton.
"And what a wonderful number of different animals there are in the world," said Matilda. "This is unlike anything I ever saw. I wonder why there are such a number?"
"And so many of them not good for anything," said Norton.
"Oh Norton, you can't say that, you know."
"Why not? This fellow, for instance; what is he good for?"
"I don't know; and you don't know. But that's just it, Norton. You don't know."
"Well, what are lions and tigers good for?" said Norton. "I suppose we know about them. What are they good for?"
"Why Norton, I can't tell," said Matilda. "I would very much like to know. But they must be good for something."