Spotty was still there when Peter returned a
long time after, and he didn't look as if he had moved. A sudden
thought struck Peter. He couldn't remember that he ever had seen
Spotty's house. He had seen the houses of most of his other friends,
but think as hard as ever he could, he didn't remember having seen
Spotty's.
"Hi, Spotty!" he shouted. "Where do you live?"
Spotty slowly turned his head and looked up at Peter. There was a
twinkle in his eyes, though Peter didn't see it.
"Right here in the Smiling Pool. Where else should I live?" he
replied.
"I mean, where is your house?" returned Peter. "Of course I know you
live in the Smiling Pool, but where is your house? Is it in the bank
or down under water?"
"It is just wherever I happen to be. Just now it is right here," said
Spotty. "I always take it with me wherever I go; I find it much the
handiest way."
[Illustration: "Hi, Spotty!" he shouted. "Where do you live?"]
With that Spotty disappeared. That is to say, his head and legs and
tail disappeared. Peter stared very hard. Then he began to laugh, for
it came to him that what Spotty had said was true. His house was
with him, and now he had simply retired inside. He didn't need any
other house than just that hard, spotted shell, inside of which he was
now so cosily tucked away.
"That's a great idea! Ho, ho, ho! That's a great idea!" shouted Peter.
"Of course it is," replied Spotty, putting nothing but his head out,
"You will always find me at home whenever you call, Peter, and that is
more than you can say of most other people.
Pages:
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95