The Round-Faced Beauty therefore wandered forth among the mossy
rocks and drooping willows of the Imperial Garden, deeply
considering the matter. She ascended the bow-curved bridge of
marble which crossed the Pool of Clear Weather, and from the top
idly observed the reflection of her rose-and-gold coat in the
water while, with her taper fingers, she crumbled cake for the
fortunate gold-fish that dwelt in it. And, so doing, she remarked
one fish, four-tailed among the six-tailed, and in no way
distinguished by elegance, which secured by far the largest share
of the crumbs dropped into the pool. Bending lower, she observed
this singular fish and its methods.
The others crowded about the spot where the crumbs fell, all
herded together. In their eagerness and stupidity they remained
like a cloud of gold in one spot, slowly waving their tails. But
this fish, concealing itself behind a miniature rock, waited,
looking upward, until the crumbs were falling, and then, rushing
forth with the speed of an arrow, scattered the stupid mass of
fish, and bore off the crumbs to its shelter, where it instantly
devoured them.
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