Read Online The Wind on the Moon by Eric Linklater - Free Book Online

things as we do, and why we should want to talk about the same things in two different languages I can’t think. But a conversation with a camel or a leopard, for example, should be really interesting.
    She and Dorinda grew more cheerful, and Sir Lankester introduced them to an Antelope, a Ring-tailed Lemur, an Ant-eater, and a Zebra. A very large Python, however, of whom he was particularly proud, was fast asleep and they did not disturb him.
    â€˜He sleeps a great deal,’ said Sir Lankester, ‘but if you ever manage to meet him when he’s awake, you’ll find him very interesting. He is certainly one of our most distinguished members.’
    Then they walked across the park, in a corner of which was a small enclosure where a pair of Ostriches lived. They were called Sir Bobadil and Lady Lil.
    â€˜They recently had a great sorrow,’ Sir Lankester explained. ‘A few days ago Lady Lil laid her first egg. It was a most beautiful egg, and they were naturally very proud of it. So indeed were we all. But then the most dreadful thing happened. The egg disappeared! We searched for it everywhere, but no trace of it could be found. It was a complete mystery. And Sir Bobadil and Lady Lil, poor things, were almost heart-broken. But yesterday she laid a second egg, and they were so delighted that both of them, I hope, have by now forgotten their sad loss. Because, after all, one egg is very like another. And there, beside the lime-trees, is where they live.’
    â€˜Something’s up,’ said Mr. Plum.
    â€˜What do you mean?’ asked Sir Lankester.
    â€˜With the Ostriches,’ said Mr. Plum. ‘What are they making all that noise for?’
    As they came near the enclosure they could see the Ostriches striding up and down in a very agitated way. They were screaming at each other with anger in their voices, and Dinah and Dorinda were soon able to learn the reason for their quarrel.
    â€˜It’s all your fault!’ Lady Lil was repeating. ‘Your fault entirely. All your fault. Oh, how I hate you!’
    â€˜It wasn’t my fault at all,’ shouted Sir Bobadil. ‘I just went out for a walk—not a long walk, just a little walk—and I wasn’t away for more than half an hour.’
    â€˜After I had sat on it all night!’ screamed Lady Lil. ‘All I asked you to do was to look after it for an hour or two, while I went for my breakfast, and when I came back you were nowhere to be seen, and it was nowhere to be seen, and now my heart is broken. Oh, whatever shall I do? First one, and then another! My lovely eggs, my dear, dear eggs! Oh, why did you go away? Why didn’t you stay and look after it?’
    â€˜I just went down to the river to have a word with the Black Swan,’ said Sir Bobadil. ‘What harm was there in that?’
    â€˜What harm?’ exclaimed Lady Lil. ‘How dare you say a thing like that! My beautiful white egg has been stolen, because you wouldn’t stay to look after it, and then you ask what harm you have done! Oh, you wicked, wicked Ostrich!’
    â€˜No, not wicked,’ cried Sir Bobadil. ‘Don’t say I’m wicked. Please don’t say that!’
    â€˜Yes, you are,’ said Lady Lil. ‘You have made me so unhappy, I think I shall die.’
    â€˜It was my egg as well as yours,’ said Sir Bobadil. ‘You needn’t think that you are the only one to suffer. I’ve got a very, very tender heart, and at this very moment I’m suffering acutely. Perhaps I did make a mistake, but if so I’m paying for it now. I’m just as unhappy as you are, I’m sure I am. Perhaps I shall die too. So don’t let us make things worse by quarrelling. Please don’t quarrel with me, Lil.’
    â€˜No, we shouldn’t quarrel,’ sobbed Lady Lil.
    â€˜Then say you forgive me!’ begged Sir Bobadil.
    â€˜Are you truly sorry?’
    â€˜Truly, truly