Page:Tudor Jenks--Imaginotions.djvu/93

Rh "If you could suggest some method of reaching the floor—"

I offered him the ruler. He seated himself cautiously upon it, and I lowered him gently to the floor.

"Quite a walk to the book-case!" was his next observation. I had n't thought of it, but proffered my services once more.

"I LOWERED HIM GENTLY TO THE FLOOR."

"Which shelf would you prefer?" I asked, as respectfully as possible, for certainly it was not an ordinary question.

"A matter of indifference to me, sir," he replied with a mite of a bow.

"Equally one to me," I replied, with a bow in return. I was resolved that he should do some thinking for himself.

"Let us say the lowest, then"; and he glanced at the upper shelves, perhaps calculating the possible result of a misstep.

I left him on the lowest shelf, returning to the table to put away the microscope. A slight cough drew my attention, to the book-case.