“It is quite evident then that you have no sympathy in your nature,” said the Water-
rat.
“I am afraid you don’t quite see the moral of the story,” remarked the Linnet.
“The what?” screamed the Water-rat.
“The moral.”
“Do you mean to say the story has a moral?”
“Certainly,” said the Linnet.
“Well, really,” said the Water-rat, in a very angry manner, “I think you should have
told me that before you began. If you had done so, I would certainly not have listened to
you; in fact, I should have said ‘Pooh,’ like the critic.
