And, on the other hand, if the crab-phantasms give jolly sensations, why should not the crow-phantasms?
So whichever way it turns out, no matter; and I may as well wait here, and seem to become crows, as I certainly shall do .-- Bran!....

Why should I wait for her?
What pleasure can it be to me to have the feeling of a four-legged, brindled, lop-eared, toad-mouthed thing always between what seem to be my legs?
There she is! Where have you been, madam?
Don't you see I am in marching order, with staff and wallet ready shouldered?
Come!' But the dog, looking up in his face as only dogs can look, ran toward the back of the ruin, and up to him again, and back again, until he followed her.
'What's this?
Here is a new sensation with a vengeance! O storm and cloud of material appearances, were there not enough of you already, that you must add to your number these also?
Bran! Bran! Could you find no other day in the year but this, whereon to present my ears with the squeals of--one--two--three--nine blind puppies ?' Bran answered by rushing into the hole where her new family lay tumbling and squalling, bringing out one in her mouth, and laying it at his feet.
'Needless, I assure you.

I am perfectly aware of the state of the case already.

What! another?
Silly old thing!--do you fancy, as the fine ladies do, that burdening the world with noisy likenesses of your precious self, is a thing of which to be proud?
Why, she's bringing out the whole litter!....

What was I thinking of last?
Ah--the argument was self-contradictory, was it, because I could not argue without using the very terms which I repudiated.