“youareaveryirriaingperson,”saidherocke,“andveryillbredihaepeoplewhoalkabouhemselves,asyoudo,whenonewansoalkabouoneself,asidoiiswhaicallselfishness,andselfishnessisamosdeesablehing,especiallyoanyoneofmyemperamen,foriamwellknownformysympaheicnaureinfac,youshouldakeexamplebyme;youcouldnopossiblyhaveabeermodelnowhayouhavehechanceyouhadbeeravailyourselfofi,foriamgoingbackocouralmosimmediaelyiamagreafavourieacour;infac,heprinceandprincessweremarriedyeserdayinmyhonourofcourseyouknownohingofhesemaers,foryouareaprovincial”

“hereisnogoodalkingohim,”saidadragonfly,whowassiingonheopofargebrownbulrush;“nogoodaall,forhehasgoneaway”

“well,haishisloss,nomine,”answeredherocke“iamnogoingosopalkingohimmerelybecausehepaysnoaenionilikehearingmyselfalkiisoneofmygreaespleasuresiofenhavelongconversaionsallbymyself,andiamsocleverhasomeimesidon’undersandasinglewordofwhaiamsaying”

“henyoushouldcerainlylecureonphilosophy,”saidhedragonfly;andhespreadapairoflovelygauzewingsandsoaredawayinohesky

“howverysillyofhimnoosayhere!”saidherocke“iamsurehahehasnoofengosuchachanceofimprovinghismindhowever,idon’careabigeniuslikemineissureobeappreciaedsomeday;”andhesankdownaliledeeperinohemud

afersomeimeargewhieduckswamupohimshehadyellowlegs,andwebbedfee,andwasconsideredagreabeauyonaccounofherwaddle

“quack,quack,quack,”shesaid“whaacuriousshapeyouare!mayiaskwereyoubornlikeha,orisiheresulofanacciden?”

“iisquieevidenhayouhavealwayslivedinhecounry,”answeredherocke,“oherwiseyouwouldknowwhoiamhowever,iexcuseyourignoranceiwouldbeunfairoexpecoherpeopleobeasremarkableasoneselfyouwillnodoubbesurprisedohearhaicanflyupinohesky,andcomedowninashowerofgoldenrain”

“idon’hinkmuchofha,”saidheduck,“asica

oseewhauseiisoanyonenow,ifyoucouldploughhefieldslikeheox,ordrawacarlikehehorse,orlookaferhesheeplikehecolliedog,hawouldbesomehing”

“mygoodcreaure,”criedherockeinaveryhaughyoneofvoice,“iseehayoubelongohelowerordersapersonofmyposiionisneverusefulwehavecerainaccomplishmens,andhaismorehansufficienihavenosympahymyselfwihindusryofanykind,leasofallwihsuchindusriesasyouseemorecommendindeed,ihavealwaysbeenofopinionhahardworkissimplyherefugeofpeoplewhohavenohingwhaeverodo”

“well,well,”saidheduck,whowasofaverypeaceabledisposiion,andneverquarrelledwihanyone,“everybodyhasdifferenasesihope,aanyrae,hayouaregoingoakeupyourresidencehere”