雙語·彼得兔的故事 狐貍和鸛

THE FOX AND THE STORK

“Sir,” said Mr. Tod to King Stork, “will you honour me by taking tea with me?” King Stork bowed. He walked home with Mr. Fox; he took long strides and Mr. Tod trotted.

Mr. Tod is a stingy person. He regretted the invitation as soon as he had given it, when he considered the size of Mr. Stork. So he made a plan. Said he to Mr. Stork—“When I have visitors I use Great Grandmother Vixen's Derby tea set.” He poured the tea into two flat saucers.

King Stork dipped the point of his bill into the saucer, but he could scarcely scoop up a drop. Presently he made a bow and took leave. Mr. Tod lapped up the remaining tea himself.

As he had a conscience which told him he had behaved shabbily—Mr. Tod was surprised to receive an invitation to lunch with King Stork.

The note was brought by a very nervous lapwing.

King Stork's home was upon the top of a high chimney-stack over the roof of a tall old house. As Mr. Tod had no wings for flying up aloft onto roofs—King Stork came down and met him in the courtyard of the house, and led him inside and up a corkscrew staircase. There was a pleasing smell of broth when they reached the attic. The broth was served in two narrow-necked pitchers.

King Stork plunged his long bill into one pitcher and sucked up the broth. Mr. Tod could only lick his lips and sniff. Presently he got up and said, “Good Day!”

King Stork drew his bill out of his empty pitcher. He was a silent old bird. All he said was, “Tit for tat!”