Page:Carroll - Sylvie and Bruno Concluded.djvu/255

XIV] "Then his head had growed up again?" said Bruno.

"Oh yes, it grew up in a minute. And the Lion begged pardon, and said it wouldn't nubble off little boys' headsnot never no more!"

Bruno looked much pleased at this change of events."Now that are a really nice story!" he said. "Aren't it a nice story, Mister Sir?"

"Very," I said. "I would like to hear another story about that Boy."

"So would I," said Bruno, stroking Sylvie's cheek again. "Please tell about Bruno's Picnic; and don't talk about nubbly Lions!"

"I won't, if it frightens you," said Sylvie.

"Flightens me!" Bruno exclaimed indignantly. "It isn't that! It's 'cause 'nubbly' 's such a grumbly word to saywhen one person's got her head on another person's shoulder. When she talks like that," he explained to me, "the talking goes down bofe sides of my faceall the way to my chinand it doos tickle so! It's enough to make a beard grow, that it is!"

He said this with great severity, but it was evidently meant for a joke: so Sylvie laughed