"'You could hide it at the bottom of the flour-barrel,' said she.
"'That would make me feel chokey,' answered he.
"'Well, in the coal-cellar, or in the dust-hole. That's the place! No one
would think of looking for your heart in the dust-hole.'
"'Worse and worse!' cried the giant.
"'Well, the water-butt?' said she.
"'No, no; it would grow spongy there,' said he.
"'Well, what will you do with it?'
"'I will leave it a month longer where it is, and then I will give it to
the Queen of the Kangaroos, and she will carry it in her pouch for me. It
is best to change, you know, and then my enemies can't find it. But, dear
Doodlem, it's a fretting care to have a heart of one's own to look after.
The responsibility is too much for me. If it were not for a bite of a
radish now and then, I never could bear it.'
"Here the giant looked lovingly towards the row of little boys by the
fire, all of whom were nodding, or asleep on the floor.
"'Why don't you trust it to me, dear Thunderthump?' said his wife. 'I
would take the best possible care of it.
Pages:
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54