Page:Carroll - Sylvie and Bruno Concluded.djvu/430

392 the Banquet. Brother, will you lead the way?" And the old man, attended by his children, headed the procession down stairs. "See the fate of a loveless life!" he said to Bruno, as they returned to their places. To which Bruno made reply, "I always loved Sylvie, so I'll never get prickly like that!" "He is prickly, certainly," said the Professor, who had caught the last words, "but we must remember that, however porcupiny, he is royal still! After this feast is over, I'm going to take a little present to Prince Uggugjust to soothe him, you know: it isn't pleasant living in a cage." "What'll you give him for a birthday-present?" Bruno enquired. "A small saucer of chopped carrots," replied the Professor. "In giving birthday-presents, my motto ischeapness! I should think I save forty pounds a year by giving—oh, what a twinge of pain!" "What is it?" said Sylvie anxiously. "My old enemy!" groaned the Professor. "Lumbagorheumatismthat sort of thing. I think I'll go and lie down a bit." And he