"Yes, I know; well, I did that. I took him in hand, and I just taught him, and now——!"
"Yes, I know. But how did you teach him?"
"I fell upon him. I knocked him from his perch, and in the fall broke his wretched sword with my own weight!"
"What very arbitrary distinctions you draw!"
"I don't know what you mean. I do like a plaything to be smart, anyhow. Don't you, Mr. Whyte Rabbit? You don't play your tambourine properly. Now I shall take you in hand." And she slipped toward me.
"I prefer to use my own drumsticks. I can make enough noise in the world without extraneous assistance."
"How silly you are. I don't want to see you spick and span, as if you were ready to be given away with a pound of tea."
"Still, I don't see why I should alter my drumming——"
"Oh, you are stupid! Of course you admire me!"
"As he did. I see."