He kept on saying he was thirsty for half an hour, till we came to a station.

I had made up my mind I would get into another carriage at the first stop we came to; but, somehow, it seemed rather low to leave the kid in the lurch.

So I bought him a glass of milk instead, which set him up again.

Nobody else got in the carriage--knew better--and off we went again.
He'd got an awful lot to say for himself; about dicky-birds and puff- puffs, and dogs, and trouser-pockets and rot of that sort, and didn't seem to care much whether I listened or no.

Then, just when I thought he had about run dry and was getting sleepy, he rounded on me with-- "Tell me a story." "Me?
I don't know any stories." "Oh yes; a funny one, please." "I tell you I don't know any--what about ?" "`The Three Bears.'" "I don't know anything about `three bears,'" said I.
"Do! do!! do!!!" he said, beginning to get crusty.
So I did my best.