But Maggie refused, and explained that she was going to seek Alfonso.
“Tut, tut, tut!” said the Bishop. “If the cock is as valuable as you say, he will be well cared for. You will have a good education at my palace, and be clean and tidy.”
“But I don’t want to be clean and tidy, and I shouldn’t like to live in a palace,” cried Maggie.
All the servants tittered.
“Nonsense!” said the Bishop. “Everyone wants to be clean and tidy, and everyone would like to live in a palace.”
“But I can’t!” exclaimed Maggie—“indeed I can’t!”
“There is no such word as ‘can’t’ in the English language,” said the Bishop.
“Come! come!” said Maggie to the Cochin-Chinaman, “we must get away as quick as we can!”
The Bishop could not understand what she said, but he saw she was preparing to run.
“I fear you are one of the many people who do not know what is good for them,” said he. “Get into the carriage immediately. The footmen will help you in, and you may sit opposite to me.”