human
You _have_ shut up and no mistake! he said severely,
gpt
Well, what was it like?
human
Not at all nice. I didn't want to remain--although I possessed a magnificent pearl. I felt so horribly ill--as though I had some dreadful disease. What a life pearl-oysters must have if they feel like that!
gpt
I've heard pearls _is_ a disease.
human
Then how horrid of you to let me have it. You ought to have told me.
gpt
How could I? You were in such a hurry. I couldn't do anything. You were just the same over that wretched mole. I do wish you wouldn't go off like that again; you know you promised you wouldn't.
human
I forgot. But it's the Wishes that go off so quick.
gpt
I say! Where was your bracelet, Dulcie, when you were an oyster?
human
Don't know, she answered, pondering.
gpt
I s'pose it must have melted. Oh yes, of course I remember--it had grown very small, and formed a sort of little boundary all round me inside my shell; it's here all right now. I can't think--let me see, what were we talking about before I went away? There was something I was going to tell you. What _were_ we talking about, Cyril?
human
Sea-serpents.
gpt
Oh yes. Well, I was going to tell you, there must be Sea-serpents, 'cos you remember it being in the papers and our seeing a picture of one.
human
But that was all stuff and nonsense.
gpt
No it wasn't.
human
Well, look here, we'll soon find out, little Duffer. I wish I were a Sea-serpent!
gpt
I'm not a Duffer, after all,