THE PIE AND THE PATTY-PAN
"I would not trouble you for worlds; I feel wonderfully better. One pill of Dr. Maggotty"
"Indeed it is most admirable, if it has cured you of a patty-pan! I will call directly after breakfast to ask how you have kept."
Ribby and Duchess said good-bye affectionately, and Duchess started home. Half-way up the lane she stopped and looked back; Ribby had gone in and shut her door. Duchess slipped through the fence, and ran round to the back of Ribby's house, and peeped into the yard.
Upon the roof of the pig-stye sat Dr. Maggotty and three jackdaws. The jackdaws were eating pie-crust, and the magpie was drinking gravy out of a patty-pan.
"Gammon, ha, HA!" he shouted when he saw Duchess's little black nose peeping round the corner.
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