offended, and in a great huff it turned towards the pool again. "I beg
your pardon," said the Kangaroo nervously. "I didn't mean an altogether
animal, or even a bird, but any a--a--a----." She seemed puzzled how to
speak of the Platypus, when the strange creature, seeing the well-meaning
embarrassment of the Kangaroo, said affably, "any mammal or Ornithorhynchus
Paradoxus."

"Exactly," said the Kangaroo, brightening up, although she hadn't the
least idea what a mammal was.

"Well, bring the little Human here," said the Platypus in a more friendly
tone, "and if I feel quite sure on that point I will permit an interview."

Two bounds brought the Kangaroo to where Dot was hidden. She seemed
anxious that the child should make a good impression on the Platypus, and
tried with the long claws on her little black hands to comb through Dot's
long gleaming curls; but they were so tangled that the child called out at
this awkward method of hairdressing, and the Kangaroo stopped. She then
licked a black smudge off Dot's forehead, which was all she could to tidy
her. Then she started back with a hop, and eyed the child with her head
on one side. She was not quite satisfied. "Ah!" she said, "if only you
were a baby Kangaroo I could make you look so nice! But I can't do
anything to your sham coat, which gets worse every day, and your fur is
all wrong, for one can't get one's claws through it. You Humans are no
good in the bush!"

"Never mind, dear Kangaroo," said the little girl; "when I get home mother
will put me on a new frock, and will get the tangles out of my hair. Let
us go to the Platypus now."