散文：忠诚的朋友Part 19

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【英文原文】

  "But what became of the Miller¹?" asked the Water-rat.

  "Oh! I really don't know," replied the Linnet; "and I am sure that I don't care."

  "It is quite evident² then that you have no sympathy in your nature," said the Water-rat.

  "I am afraid you don't quite see the moral³ of the story," remarked the Linnet.

  "The what?" screamed the Water-rat.

  "The moral."

  "Do you mean to say that 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 certainly would not have listened to you; in fact, I should have said 'Pooh,' like the critic. However, I can say it now"; so he shouted out "Pooh" at the top of his voice, gave a whisk with his tail, and went back into his hole.

  "And how do you like the Water-rat?" asked the Duck, who came paddling up some minutes afterwards. "He has a great many good points, but for my own part I have a mother's feelings, and I can never look at a confirmed bachelor without the tears coming into my eyes." 

  "I am rather afraid that I have annoyed him," answered the Linnet. "The fact is, that I told him a story with a moral."

  "Ah! that is always a very dangerous thing to do," said the Duck.

  And I quite agree with her.

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