"I will tell you," said the gnome. "Now, pay attention to the answer: Because it has gone down. Don't you see?" asked the old fellow, with a gracious smile.
"'DON'T YOU SEE?' ASKED THE OLD FELLOW."
"Yes, I see," said the goose-girl, scratching her head again; "but my answer was nearly as good as yours."
"Oh, dear me!" said Old Riddler, "that wont do. It's of no use at all to give an answer that is nearly good enough. It must be exactly right, or it's worthless. I am afraid, young girl, that you don't care much for riddles."
"Yes I do," said the goose-girl; "I make 'em."
"Make them?" exclaimed Old Riddler, in great surprise.
"Yes," replied Lois, "I'm out here all day with these geese, and I haven't anything else to do, and so I make riddles. Do you want to hear one of them?"
"Yes, I would like it very much indeed," said the gnome.
"Well, then, here's one: If the roofs of houses were flat instead of slanting, why would the rain be like a chained dog?"