"He called us—cluck-cluck-cluck," said the white hen.
"Why shouldn't he?" asked all the other hens.
"I didn't mean he called us 'cluck-cluck-cluck,'" said the white hen hastily. "I was only choking with rage when I said that. He called us—cluck-cluck-cluck—"
"She's going to lay an egg," said the black hen with interest.
"Poultry!" screamed the white hen suddenly.
"Poultry?" gasped the other hens.
"Poultry!—he called us 'poultry'—oh, cluck-cluck-cluck—"
"Something must be done," said the yellow hen.
"Something must be done," repeated all the hens.
"We must have a hunger-strike till he apologises," said the thin hen importantly.