GOV. (_sitting down_). Ah! it is a cruel punishment! Once I was a mortal child, but that was years ago, and when I came into Hyacinth Dell I was made a Fairy, and was appointed Governess to the most trying and perverse Elf in all Fairy Land. I don’t dare to think that _I_ was as trying and perverse to _my_ Governess. She told me that this Dell was enchanted, and forbade me to enter it, and only when it was _too late_ did I regret my disobedience. Here comes my precious pupil. _Enter FLIBBIE._ GOV. Now, Flibbie, late again! You are always unpunctual. It is very wrong to be unpunctual. Come here at once! FLIB. (_slyly_). Please, Governess, is it worse to be unpunctual than disobedient? GOV. Whatever you do that is not right is wrong. FLIB. That is rather an artful answer. GOV. How dare you speak to me like that? FLIB. (_laughs slyly_). GOV. Don’t laugh! FLIB. (_serious_). I’m not laughing. GOV. But you _were_ laughing. And how many times have I told you not to twiddle your thumbs? FLIB. I really don’t know, Governess; it never occurred to me to count. GOV. We will commence with History. How was William Rufus killed? FLIB. With an arrow. GOV. There’s a good Flibbie! You see you _can_ be good if you try. And who killed him? FLIB. A sparrow. GOV. A sparrow? FLIB. Yes, Governess. “I, said the sparrow, with my bow and arrow.” Shakespeare! GOV. But I was asking about William Rufus. FLIB. Oh, I beg your pardon, Governess, I thought you were asking about Cock Robin. Of course, William Rufus was killed by Sir Walter Squirrel. GOV. “Sir Walter” is right, Flibbie, but not “Squirrel.” FLIB. Oh, I beg your pardon, Governess, I saw one on that oak-tree, and it diverted my thoughts. Of course, it was Sir Walter Tyrrel. GOV. Quite right, Flibbie. And why was William called Rufus? FLIB. On account of the colour of his hair. GOV. And what colour was his hair? FLIB. Blue; and he had a big beard of the same colour, and he had ever so many wives, and he cut off their heads, and, and--hung them up in the drawing-room, and locked the door--and---- GOV. No, no, Flibbie! You are thinking of Blue Beard. What colour was the hair of William Rufus? FLIB. Green. GOV. No. FLIB. Magenta. GOV. No. FLIB. Vandyke brown. GOV. No. FLIB. Crimson lake. GOV. Oh, Flibbie, how trying you are! FLIB. Pink. GOV. No. FLIB. Vermilion. GOV. No. FLIB. I recollect, now. Red. GOV. Quite right, Flibbie. FLIB. And for this reason the boys at school called him “Carrots.” GOV. I don’t think that’s in history, Flibbie. FLIB. Then, please, Governess, I think it ought to be. GOV. Now for Geography. What is an Island? FLIB. An Island is a piece of water surrounded by land.