human
Who are you? asked the gingerbread man;
gpt
My name is Pittypat, and I'm a rabbit, answered the animal.
human
But tell me, please, who _you_ are, and what may be your name; for I have never seen your like before.
gpt
I am a gingerbread man, and my name is John Dough, he replied, readily. And then, more anxiously, he asked:
human
Do you eat gingerbread, friend Pittypat?
gpt
No, indeed, was the reply.
human
I prefer clover and sweet roots. But please answer another question. How is that you understand my language, and can talk to me?
gpt
I cannot tell you that, I'm sure, said John,
human
Are there any more like you on this island?
gpt
Oh, yes; there are lots of us! exclaimed the rabbit.
human
But not so many of us as there are Mifkets.
gpt
And what is a Mifket?
human
A sort of creature that is neither an animal nor a man, answered Pittypat.
gpt
And the Mifkets rule this island because they are bigger and fiercer than we rabbits are. Also I know many squirrels and birds and mice, and the Fairy King of the beavers--for I am well acquainted here. But I do not like the Mifkets, and scamper away when they come near. There is a bouncing brown bear, also, who lives on a hill yonder, and once he claimed to be king of all the animals. But the Mifkets found out that our bear is not nearly so dreadful as he seems; so they refused to obey him, and now have a king of their own. For my part, however, I like the brown bear best of all our inhabitants, for he has a jolly nature and never hurts any one.
human
But are there no men--no people like _me_ upon this island?
gpt
No one like you, most surely, answered Pittypat, staring at the gingerbread man with its big eyes.
human
But as for human creatures, there are three who dwell with the Mifkets, near the other side of the forest.
gpt
Dear me! sighed John;
human
I'm sorry to hear that. Who are the humans?
gpt
Well, one is the Princess, and the Princess is very beautiful and lovely, answered Pittypat.
human
She isn't much bigger than the child I saw here with you a few minutes ago; but our little Princess is beloved by every creature on the island--except, perhaps, the Mifkets, who love only themselves.
gpt
Does the Princess live in a palace?
human
Oh, yes; a beautiful palace made by bending downward the big leaves of the roi-tree and fastening the ends to the ground. One of the leaves is left loose, for a doorway, and in the room thus formed the Princess lives in great state and loneliness, and sleeps upon a bed of fragrant mosses.
gpt
Does she like gingerbread?
human
I don't believe she knows what gingerbread is, the rabbit replied.
gpt
But you may be sure the Princess will not harm you, however fond she might be of gingerbread.
human
I'm glad to hear that, said John.
gpt
But your Princess is the only one of the three human creatures you mentioned. Who are the others?
human
Her father and mother, said the rabbit.
gpt
The three landed here in a small boat some years ago. They were shipwrecked, I suppose, and the boat is still lying upon the north shore. But the terrible Mifkets captured the father and mother of the Princess and made them slaves, to wait upon them and obey their wishes; and as the little girl was delicate and not very strong, they let her live by herself in the palace of the roi-tree, and mocked her by calling her a Princess. If she grows up to be strong I think they will make her a slave, too; but she is so frail and weak that none of us rabbits believe she will live very long.
human
This is all very interesting, said John.
gpt
I'd really like to meet these humans.
human
Then come with me and I will guide your steps to where they are,
gpt
I must wait until Chick comes back,
human
Is Chick the child I saw going into the forest?
gpt
Yes, replied John.
human
It's an Incubator Baby and very jolly and kind. Chick ought to be back in a few minutes.
gpt
I'm rather nervous when children are around, declared the rabbit, hesitating.
human
Are you sure Chick is kind?
gpt
Very, said John, with conviction;