24 “ CARROTS.”

retorted Carrots. “I'd rather be a sailor, like
papa.”

«Sailors have to kill people too sometimes,”
said Floss.

“ Hlave they?” said Carrots. Then he sat
silent for a few minutes, finding this new idea
rather overwhelming. ‘Naughty people, do
you mean, Floss?” he inquired at’ last.

“Yes,” said Floss unhesitatingly ; “naughty
people, of course.” :

« But I don’t like killing,” said Carrots ; “not

  

killing naughty people, I don’t like. I won’t be

  

a soldier, and I won’t be a sailor, and I won’t
bea butcher, ’cos butchers kill lambs. Perhaps
Til be a fisherman.”

« But fishermen kill fish,” said Floss.

“Do they?” said Carrots, looking up in her
face pathetically with his gentle brown eyes.
“I’m so sorry. I don’t understand about
killing, Floss. I don’t like it.”

«TJ don't either,” said Floss; “but perhaps it

  

has to be. If there was no killing, we'd have’
nothing to eat.”