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“‘(A). In the story of “Eliza and the Eleven Swans,” out of Hans Andersen, the wicked stepmother throws toads into Eliza’s bath, wishing to poison her. The toads were so ugly that they could not turn into roses, which they would like to have done, and which less ugly creatures might have been able to do, but they did manage to turn into poppies, for Eliza was so good that they could not harm her. Miss Mills says toads are not really poisonous.’

“‘(B). I should take with me’ (it would have been better to say,—If I were escaping from an enchanter’s dwelling I should take with me—always repeat your question in your answer, it saves the examiner trouble,) ‘I should take with me a comb, a flower-pot and a tumbler of water, because when the enchanter pursues you, you can throw the comb behind you, and it turns into a ridge of mountains, and he has to waste time going back and fetching a ladder so as to be able to climb up them; later you can throw the flower-pot behind you which turns into a forest, so that the enchanter has to turn back again and fetch a hatchet to cut down the trees; afterwards you can throw the glass of water behind you, which turns into a lake, so that he has first to get a boat. By that time you have generally arrived at your own kingdom or wherever else you want to go.’