"Oh no!" said the gnome. "That's not it. You can give it up, you know,
if you can't think of the answer."
"I know!" said Lois. "Because it's sunk."
"Not at all," said Old Riddler, a little impatiently. "Now come, my
good girl, you'd much better give it up. You will just hack at the
answer until you make it good for nothing."
"Well, what is it?" said Lois.
"I will tell you," said the gnome. "Now, pay attention to the answer:
Because it has gone down. Don't you see?" asked the old fellow, with a
gracious smile.
"Yes, I see," said the goose-girl, scratching her head again; "but my
answer was nearly as good as yours."
"Oh, dear me!" said Old Riddler, "that wont do. It's of no use at all
to give an answer that is nearly good enough. It must be exactly right,
or it's worthless. I am afraid, young girl, that you don't care much
for riddles."
"Yes I do," said the goose-girl; "I make 'em."
"Make them?" exclaimed Old Riddler, in great surprise.
"Yes," replied Lois, "I'm out here all day with these geese, and I
haven't anything else to do, and so I make riddles. Do you want to hear
one of them?"
"Yes, I would like it very much indeed," said the gnome.
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