“Nowdon'tstandarguing, please, ” saidShift.“Whatdoesanasslikeyouknowaboutthingsofthatsort? Youknowyou'renogoodatthinking, Puzzle, sowhydon'tyouletmedoyourthinkingforyou? Whydon'tyoutreatmeasItreatyou? Idon'''swhyIletyougointothePool; Iknewyou''tIhavemyturnwhenitcomestosomethingIcandoandyoucan't? AmInevertobeallowedtodoanything? .”
“Oh, well, ofcourse, ifyouputitthatway, ” saidPuzzle.
“Itellyouwhat, ” saidShift.“You'dbettertakeagoodbrisktrotdownriverasfarasChippingfordandseeiftheyhaveanyorangesorbananas.”
“ButI'msotired, Shift, ” pleadedPuzzle.
“Yes, butyouareverycoldandwet, ” saidtheApe.“, it'smarketdayatChippingfordtoday.” AndthenofcoursePuzzlesaidhewouldgo.
AssoonashewasaloneShiftwentshamblingalong, sometimesontwopawsandsometimesonfour, , chatteringandgrinningallthetime, ; (itwasverythickstuff, morelikecordthanthread) .
'', , soitdidn'tmatter.
, thewaydonkeysdo.
“Thereweren'tanyoranges, ” hesaid, “andthereweren''mverytired.” Helaydown.
“Comeandtryonyourbeautifulnewlion-skincoat, ” saidShift.
“Ohbotherthatoldskin, ” saidPuzzle.“I'lltryitoninthemorning.I'mtootiredtonight.”
“Youareunkind, Puzzle, ” saidShift.“Ifyou'retiredwhatdoyouthinkIam? Alldaylong, whileyou'vebeenhavingalovelyrefreshingwalkdownthevalley, I''tsaythankyou -andyouwon'tevenlookatthecoat -andyoudon'tcare—and—and—”
“MydearShift, ” saidPuzzlegettingupatonce, “Iamsosorry.I''.”
