"Mary is crying," said Mr Coo. "No!" replied Mrs Coo. But Mr Coo said again- "Mary is crying," and though Mrs Coo repeated- "No!" she knew by the way he held his head on one side and looked at her, that he was very much in earnest indeed. I must tell you that when Mrs Coo said 'no, ' it went off into a soft sound that was almost like 'coo'; indeed most of her talking, and of Mr Coo's too, sounded like that, which is the reason, I daresay, that many people would not have understood their conversation. But it would be rather tiresome to write "no," or other words, with double o's at the end, so I will leave it to be fancied, which will do just as well. There is a great deal of conversation in the world which careless people don't understand; a great deal which no one can understand properly, however much they try; but also a great deal that one can get to understand, if one tries, even without the gift which the dear fairy bestowed on the very lucky prince in the long ago story. I forget his name, but I daresay some of you remember it. The gift was the power to understand all that the beasts and birds say.