Page:Carroll - Sylvie and Bruno Concluded.djvu/179

IX] to see a letter, last week, about early rising? It was strangely like this one."

The red-faced man's curiosity was roused. "Where did it appear?" he asked.

"Let me read it to you," said Arthur. He took some papers from his pocket, opened one of them, and read as follows. ''To the Editor. Sir, I was once a moderate sleeper, and knew a man who slept to excess. I pleaded, with him. 'Give up this lying in bed,' I said, 'It will ruin your health!' 'You go to bed', he said: 'why shouldn't I?' 'Yes,' I said, 'but I know when to get up in the morning.' He turned away from me. 'You sleep in your way,' he said: 'let me sleep in mine. Be off!' Then I saw that to do any good with him, I must forswear sleep. From that hour I haven't been to bed!''"

Arthur folded and pocketed his paper, and passed on the newspaper-cutting. None of us dared to laugh, the red-faced man was evidently so angry. "Your parallel doesn't run on all fours!" he snarled.

"Moderate drinkers never do so!" Arthur quietly replied. Even the stern old lady laughed at this.