Excuse me, uncle," said the nephew, with extreme deference, "but I should just like to ask you one question. Will you let me?"
"What is it?" said the papa, in the grimmest kind of manner he could put on.
"Ah, brother!" murmured the niece; for she knew that he was rather sarcastic, and she was afraid that something ironical was coming.
"Well, I just wanted to ask whether this story was about the fairy godmother, or about the Prince and Princess."
"Very well, now," said the papa. "You've asked your question. I didn't promise to answer it, and I'm happy to say it stops the story. I'll guess I'll go to sleep again. I don't like being waked up this way in the middle of the night, anyhow."
"Now, brother, I hope you're satisfied!" said the niece.
The nephew evaded the point. He said: "Well, sister, if the story really isn't going on, I should like to ask uncle another question. How big was the fairy godmother's diamond chariot?"
"It was the usual sized chariot," answered the papa.
"Whew! It must have been a pretty big diamond, then!"