POLYNESIA

"I THINK your house is the most interesting house I was ever in,"
I said as we set off in the direction of the town. "May I come and
see you again to-morrow?"

"Certainly," said the Doctor. "Come any day you like. To-morrow
I'll show you the garden and my private zoo."

"Oh, have you a zoo?" I asked.

"Yes," said he. "The larger animals are too big for the house,
so I keep them in a zoo in the garden. It is not a very big
collection but it is interesting in its way."

"It must be splendid," I said, "to be able to talk all the
languages of the different animals. Do you think I could ever
learn to do it?"

"Oh surely," said the Doctor--"with practise. You have to be
very patient, you know. You really ought to have Polynesia to
start you. It was she who gave me my first lessons."

"Who is Polynesia?" I asked.

"Polynesia was a West African parrot I had. She isn't with me
any more now," said the Doctor sadly.

"Why--is she dead?"