The Devoted Friend PART 12

     'Well?' said the Water-rat, after a long pause. 'Well, that is the end,' said the Linnet.

     'But what became of the Miller?' asked the Water-rat. 'Oh! I really don't know,' replied the Linnet, 'and I am sure that I don't care.'

     'It is quite evident then that you have no sympathy in your nature,' said the Water-rat.

     'I am afraid you don't quite see the moral of the story,' remarked the Linnet.

     'The what?' screamed the Water-rat.

     'The moral.'

     'Do you mean to say that the story has a moral?'

     'Certainly,' said the Linnet.

     'Well, really,' said the Water-rat, in a very angry manner, 'I think you should have told me that before you began. If you had done so, I certainly would not have listened to you; in fact, I should have said "Pooh," like the critic. However, I can say it now;' so he shouted out 'Pooh' at the top of his voice, gave a whisk with his tail, and went back into his hole.

     'And how do you like the Water-rat?' asked the Duck, who came paddling up some minutes afterwards. 'He has a great many good points, but for my own part I have a mother's feelings, and I can never look at a confirmed bachelor without the tears coming into my eyes.'

     'I am rather afraid that I have annoyed him,' answered the Linnet. 'The fact is, that I told him a story with a moral.

     'Ah! that is always a very dangerous thing to do,' said the Duck.

     And I quite agree with her.