“Yes, I made his acquaintance before night and got his friendship.”

 

“I liked him.  Did you?”

 

“Not at first.  He took me for a reptile¹, and it troubled me, because I didn’t know whether it was a compliment or not.  I couldn’t ask him, because it would look ignorant.  So I didn’t say anything, and soon liked him very well indeed.  Was it a compliment, do you think?”

 

“Yes, that is what it was.  They are very rare, the reptiles²; very few left, now-a-days.”

 

“Is that so?  What is a reptile?”

 

“It is a plantigrade circumflex vertebrate bacterium³ that hasn’t any wings and is uncertain.”

 

“Well, it—it sounds fine, it surely does.”

 

“And it is fine.  You may be thankful you are one.”

 

“I am.  It seems wonderfully grand and elegant for a person that is so humble⁴ as I am; but I am thankful, I am indeed, and will try to live up to it.  It is hard to remember.  Will you say it again, please, and say it slow?”

 

“Plantigrade circumflex vertebrate bacterium that hasn’t any wings and is uncertain.”

 

“It is beautiful, anybody must grant it; beautiful, and of a noble sound.  I hope it will not make me proud and stuck-up—I should not like to be that.  It is much more distinguished⁵ and honorable to be a reptile than a dog, don’t you think, Soldier?”

 

“Why, there’s no comparison.  It is awfully⁶ aristocratic.  Often a duke is called a reptile; it is set down so, in history.”

 

“Isn’t that grand!  Potter wouldn’t ever associate with me, but I reckon he’ll be glad to when he finds out what I am.”

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