human
Good morning, Mr. Grouse!
gpt
Good morning, madam! replied the gentleman with the fan.
human
What a handsome child you have! There's nothing quite like spots--or speckles--to add to a person's looks.
gpt
They _are_ pretty,
human
I can't say he favors his mother,
gpt
Oh, I had spots enough when I was young, she explained.
human
You see, all our family lose our spots as we grow up.
gpt
I'm glad to say, Mr. Grouse said with a flirt of his tail,
human
We get to be so swift-footed that we don't need spots,
gpt
I hope, he cried,
human
No, indeed!
gpt
I should hope _not_! was Mr. Grouse's response to that.
human
For everybody knows that we go up like rockets at the slightest sign of danger.
gpt
Exactly! said Nimble's mother.
human
You are so swift that you don't really need those spots to help conceal yourself, once you're grown up.
gpt
They're handy to have, all the same, he told her.
human
And as for this youngster of yours, you needn't worry much about him. He'll be safe enough in the woods. He looks just like a patch of sunlight that has fallen through a tree top upon a leaf-strewn bank.
gpt
Yes! said Mr. Grouse cheerfully.
human
He'll be safe enough--except for the Foxes.