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stonethousands of years old。 So I feel quite sure that if I could only get to
talk their language； I should be able to learn a whole lot about what the
world was like ages and ages and ages ago。 You see？〃
〃But couldn't some of the other animals tell you as well？〃
〃I don't think so；〃 said the Doctor； prodding the sausages with a fork。
〃To be sure； the monkeys I knew in Africa some time ago were very
helpful in telling me about bygone days； but they only went back a
thousand years or so。 No； I am certain that the oldest history in the world
is to be had from the shellfishand from them only。 You see most of the
other animals that were alive in those very ancient times have now become
extinct。〃
〃Have you learned any shellfish language yet？〃 I asked。
〃No。 I've only just begun。 I wanted this particular kind of a pipe…fish
because he is half a shellfish and half an ordinary fish。 I went all the way
to the Eastern Mediterranean after him。 But I'm very much afraid he isn't
going to be a great deal of help to me。 To tell you the truth； I'm rather
disappointed in his appearance。 He doesn't LOOK very intelligent； does
he？〃
〃No； he doesn't；〃 I agreed。
〃Ah；〃 said the Doctor。 〃The sausages are done to a turn。 Come along
hold your plate near and let me give you some。〃
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Then we sat down at the kitchen…table and started a hearty meal。
It was a wonderful kitchen； that。 I had many meals there afterwards
and I found it a better place to eat in than the grandest dining…room in the
world。 It was so cozy and home…like and warm。 It was so handy for the
food too。 You took it right off the fire； hot； and put it on the table and ate it。
And you could watch your toast toasting at the fender and see it didn't
burn while you drank your soup。 And if you had forgotten to put the salt
on the table； you didn't have to get up and go into another room to fetch it；
you just reached round and took the big wooden box off the dresser behind
you。 Then the fireplacethe biggest fireplace you ever saw was like a
room in itself。 You could get right inside it even when the logs were
burning and sit on the wide seats either side and roast chestnuts after the
meal was overor listen to the kettle singing； or tell stories； or look at
picture…books by the light of the fire。 It was a marvelous kitchen。 It was
like the Doctor； comfortable； sensible； friendly and solid。
While we were gobbling away； the door suddenly opened and in
marched the duck； Dab…Dab； and the dog； Jip； dragging sheets and pillow…
cases behind them over the clean tiled floor。 The Doctor； seeing how
surprised I was； explained：
〃They're just going to air the bedding for me in front of the fire。 Dab…
Dab is a perfect treasure of a housekeeper； she never forgets anything。 I
had a sister once who used to keep house for me （poor； dear Sarah！ I
wonder how she's getting onI haven't seen her in many years）。 But she
wasn't nearly as good as Dab…Dab。 Have another sausage？〃
The Doctor turned and said a few words to the dog and duck in some
strange talk and signs。 They seemed to understand him perfectly。
〃Can you talk in squirrel language？〃 I asked。
〃Oh yes。 That's quite an easy language；〃 said the Doctor。 〃You could
learn that yourself without a great deal of trouble。 But why do you ask？〃
〃Because I have a sick squirrel at home；〃 I said。 〃I took it away from a
hawk。 But two of its legs are badly hurt and I wanted very much to have
you see it； if you would。 Shall I bring it to…morrow？〃
〃Well； if its leg is badly broken I think I had better see it to…night。 It
may be too late to do much； but I'll come home with you and take a look at
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
it。〃
So presently we felt the clothes by the fire and mine were found to be
quite dry。 I took them upstairs to the bedroom and changed； and when I
came down the Doctor was all ready waiting for me with his little black
bag full of medicines and bandages。
〃Come along；〃 he said。 〃The rain has stopped now。〃
Outside it had grown bright again and the evening sky was all red with
the setting sun； and thrushes were singing in the garden as we opened the
gate to go down on to the road。
THE FIFTH CHAPTER
POLYNESIA
THINK your house is the most interesting house I was ever in；〃 I said
as we set off in the direction of the town。 〃May I come and see you again
to…morrow？〃
〃Certainly；〃 said the Doctor。 〃Come any day you like。 To…morrow I'll
show you the garden and my private zoo。〃
〃Oh； have you a zoo？〃 I asked。
〃Yes；〃 said he。 〃The larger animals are too big for the house； so I keep
them in a zoo in the garden。 It is not a very big collection but it is
interesting in its way。〃
〃It must be splendid；〃 I said； 〃to be able to talk all the languages of the
different animals。 Do you think I could ever learn to do it？〃
〃Oh surely；〃 said the Doctor〃with practise。 You have to be very
patient； you know。 You really ought to have Polynesia to start you。 It was
she who gave me my first lessons。〃
〃Who is Polynesia？〃 I asked。
〃Polynesia was a West African parrot I had。 She isn't with me any
more now；〃 said the Doctor sadly。
〃Whyis she dead？〃
〃Oh no；〃 said the Doctor。 〃She is still living； I hope。 But when we
reached Africa she seemed so glad to get back to her own country。 She
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wept for joy。 And when the time came for me to come back here I had not
the heart to take her away from that sunny landalthough； it is true； she
did offer to come。 I left her in AfricaAh well！ I have missed her terribly。
She wept again when we left。 But I think I did the right thing。 She was one
of the best friends I ever had。 It was she who first gave me the idea of
learning the animal languages and becoming an animal doctor。 I often
wonder if she remained happy in Africa； and whether I shall ever see her
funny； old； solemn face again Good old Polynesia！A most
extraor