But no word more he said;

The Artful Oyster winked his eye,

And shook his fevered head;

As who should say "'Tis not for you,

I'll leave the oyster-bed."

"Silence in the sick-room, or I'll turn you all out of it," snapped Dr. Lobster, making his claws click like infuriated castanets in the Walrus's ears.

As a duck in a thunderstorm, quite thunder-struck,

Each sixpenny bivalve looks "down on his luck."

Fancy six bob a dozen! You ought to be nice,

You dear little darlings, most dear—at the price!