Besides, she’s she, and I’m I, and--oh dear, how puzzling

it all is! 🔊 I’ll try if I know all the things I used to know. 🔊 Let me

see: four times five is twelve, and four times six is thirteen, and

four times seven is--oh dear! I shall never get to twenty at that rate! 🔊

However, the Multiplication Table doesn’t signify: let’s try Geography. 🔊

London is the capital of Paris, and Paris is the capital of Rome, and

Rome--no, that’s all wrong, I’m certain! 🔊 I must have been changed for

Mabel! 🔊 I’ll try and say “How doth the little--“’ and she crossed her

hands on her lap as if she were saying lessons, and began to repeat it, 🔊

but her voice sounded hoarse and strange, and the words did not come the

same as they used to do:-- 🔊

‘How doth the little crocodile

Improve his shining tail,

And pour the waters of the Nile

On every golden scale! 🔊

‘How cheerfully he seems to grin,

How neatly spread his claws,

And welcome little fishes in

With gently smiling jaws!’ 🔊