274 - WHISPERS FROM FAIRVLAND. [v.

 

She knows all my stories, and she’s frightfully particu-
lar about not having the same stories told over again’

Harry was quite ready to oblige; so he coughed
and cleared his throat, as people do when they are
going to sing, or tell a story, or anything for which
they wish the company to be silent and give their
attention. Then he began—‘ Once upon a time ;

‘Stop!’ said May. ‘I want to know why people
always begin their stories like that. “Once upon a
time.” What does it mean? Why omce—more than
twice—why not twice under an eternity instead of once
upon a time—I don’t see the reason for it at all.
Don’t begin so.’ ;

Harry cleared his throat again and said, ‘In days
now long gone by

‘Stop!’ cried May again. ‘ 7haz isn’t the least
bit better than the other. Why “in” days more than
“out of” days? Why only “ days,” either? what have
the poor nights done to be left out, and why “ow”
long ago, it was “then” long ago, wasn’t it ?’

At this second interruption Harry was rather
annoyed. ‘Really,’ said he, ‘one cannot tell a story
if one is to be interrupted every moment.’

‘Nonsense!’ replied May; ‘it’s your own fault.
Begin properly, can’t you ?’

So Harry, determined not to take offence where
none was intended to be given, began once more. ‘A
king lived in a far country——~

‘Please don’t be so silly,’ again interrupted his
sister. ‘Of course he lived, we know that—but why
a far country more than a near country? if it was far
from some places it was near to others, wasn’t it?