146 Old Primrose

“I won't lose my cottage and things. ll
have the law on you.”

“Pretend to be you, Mr. Butterfly ?”
replied George. ‘Bless my soul! never
thought of such a thing. As if 7 would
condescend to be a dirty little butterfly,
with no vote! Butterflies should know
their place, and not be impertinent.”

Old. Primrose tried to shake off his
butterflydom and draw himself up; but it
was too late—he was really turning into an
actual butterfly. And this shows what hard
wishing and vivid imagination can do! He
was growing hourly smaller and lighter
(although he was not yet light enough to
sit on a thin twig), and his newspaper
wings were turning into real wings, as white
as snow, and his feet and hands were
disappearing. He had longed to be a
beautiful butterfly, and had longed so hard
that he was turning to one; and now he
regretted it.

He hurried off to the court to take out a
summons against George the pig for illegally
taking possession of his cottage and garden ;