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The Reluctant Dragon
George,rising,“butreallyitseemsaboutthemostsensiblethingtodo.You’retakingalotoftroubleonyourfriend’saccount,”headded,good-naturedly,astheypassedoutthroughthedoortogether.“Butcheerup!Perhapstherewon’thavetobeanyfightafterall.”
“Oh,butIhopetherewill,though!”repliedthelittlefellow,wistfully.
“I’vebroughtafriendtoseeyou,dragon,”saidtheBoy,ratherloud.
Thedragonwokeupwithastart.“Iwasjust—er—thinkingaboutthings,”hesaidinhissimpleway.“Verypleasedtomakeyouracquaintance,sir.Charmingweatherwe’rehaving!”
“ThisisStGeorge,”saidtheBoy,shortly.“St.George,letmeintroduceyoutothedragon.We’vecomeuptotalkthingsoverquietly,dragon,andnowforgoodness’sakedoletushavealittlestraightcommon-sense,andcometosomepracticalbusiness-likearrangement,forI’msickofviewsandtheoriesoflifeandpersonaltendencies,andallthatsortofthing.Imayperhapsaddthatmymother’ssittingup.”
“Sogladtomeetyou,St.George,”beganthedragonrathernervously,“becauseyou’vebeenagreattraveller,Ihear,andI’vealwaysbeenratherastay-at-home.ButIcanshowyoumanyantiquities,manyinterestingfeaturesofourcountry-side,ifyou’restoppinghereanytime—”
“Ithink,”saidSt.George,inhisfrank,pleasantway,“thatwe’dreallybettertaketheadviceofouryoungfriendhere,andtrytocometosomeunderstanding,onabusinessfooting,aboutthislittleaffairofours.
