THE DODO OBLIGES WITH A SONG.
"Hold hard! Stop! Here we are!" cried the Dodo, soon after they had
reached Charing Cross. "There's A. B. C."
"We haven't got to Norfolk Street yet," said the cabby.
"Never mind, there's A. B. C., and that's who I want," declared the
Dodo, scrambling down from the roof. "You stay in the cab till I come
back," he called out to the children, smoothing his gloves and settling
his tie as he walked towards the door.
The children watched him enter, and through the glass door of the
shop--for it was a shop into which he had gone--saw him engaged in a
lengthy conversation with a young lady, who at first seemed afraid of
him; but, some more ladies coming up, they closed around the bird, and
seemed to be highly amused at something, while the Dodo grew more and
more excited, waving his pinions about, and stamping his claws
furiously, and finally rushing out of the shop and slamming the door too
violently.
"I never heard of such impertinence," he declared, puffing and blowing
in his excitement, "putting up A. B. C., when they are nothing of the
sort. They wanted to tell me that they have a right to use those
letters, because they are the Aerated Bread Company. What rubbish! They
might as well stick up X. Y. Z. Who's to know what's meant? Aerated
Bread Company, indeed! It might as well have stood for Antediluvian
Bottlewashing Company. Bah! I've no patience with such nonsense." And in
a highly-ruffled state of mind he scrambled back to his place on the
roof, and told the cabby to drive on to Norfolk Street.
After a few minutes' ride they stopped outside a handsome building, and
the Dodo once more alighted, and went up the steps to where a man in
brown livery, with gilt buttons, stood by the lift.
"Are you A. B. C.?" demanded the Dodo, posing in what he evidently took
to be a dignified attitude.
"N--no--second floor!" gasped the astonished attendant.
"Dear me, what a bother," said the Dodo. "Just go and tell him I'm here,
will you?" he said; "I've come about the situation, you know."
"Oh!" said the man, "you'd better go up; there are several applicants
already."
"Bless me!" cried the Dodo, in alarm. "I'd better hurry then."
"Will you go up in the lift--er--Sir?" asked the attendant.
"What's that?" demanded the Dodo.
"Oh, get in, and you'll see," said the man, unceremoniously, pushing the
bird into the lift, and getting in after him.
He pulled the rope, and up they went, the Dodo sinking to the ground
with a ridiculous sprawl as the lift ascended.
"Oh! Oh! Stop!" he screamed, shrilly.
But the lift went till the second floor was reached, when the attendant
opened the door, and bundled the bird out into the passage.
"Second door on the left," he called out, and, pulling the string, was
soon out of sight again.
"Good gracious!" gasped the bewildered Dodo, "I was never so bustled
about before in all my life. But now for this A. B. C., whoever he is. I
mustn't lose the situation if I can help it."
The second door on the left was soon found, and the Dodo knocked with
his beak.
A small youth appeared, who at first seemed rather alarmed, but
presently exploded into a half-stifled laugh. "My hat!" he exclaimed.
"Here's a go! Why, blessed if it ain't a bird with gloves on--and a
tie--oh! what a lark!"
"No," said the Dodo, with dignity, "not a lark--your education must have
been sadly neglected, my good boy--I'm a Dodo, or _the_ Dodo, in fact."
"Well, I never!" said the boy, "if it isn't talking!"
"Of course. Why not?" demanded the Dodo.
"Oh! oh! this is too good! What may your business be, Mr.--er--Dodo?"
"I've come about the situation," said the bird, smoothing his gloves
consequentially.
The boy exploded into a fit of laughter. "Oh, come in!" he cried. "This
is better than a circus--come in--I'll tell the Governor you're here."
And the Dodo was ushered into a room where two or three gentlemen were
sitting at high desks.
"Who is it, Perkins?" said one of the gentlemen.
"Some one about the situation, Sir," said Perkins, stuffing his
handkerchief into his mouth to prevent himself laughing aloud.
The gentlemen all turned around and stared at the Dodo.
"Why, it's a bird!" cried one.
"Of course it is; what else did you expect I was?" said the Dodo. "Are
you A. B. C.?"
"No--no," stammered the man. "I'm the Head Clerk, though, and--I----"
"I've no time to waste with Head Clerks," said the Dodo. "Just go and
tell A. B. C. I'm here, will you?"
"But er----"
At this moment an inner door opened, and another gentleman stepped into
the room.
"Whatever is all this noise----" he began, when he caught sight of the
Dodo.
[Illustration: "Do--o--o not--a--for--r--r--get m--e--e--e"]
"Are you A. B. C.?" said the bird, pouncing upon him at once.
"Well--really," said the gentleman, "I----"
"Don't beat about the bush. Are you A. B. C., or are you not?" demanded
the Dodo.
"Yes, I am, but----"
"Very well, then, I've come to take the situation, and I'll just draw my
first week's salary at once, if you please."
"But," said the gentleman, with an amused smile, "I must see some of
your work first. Perkins, bring the typewriter!"
The boy brought the instrument, and placed it on a small table.
"Now, then," said the gentleman, motioning the Dodo towards it.
"Oh! it's so long since I played," said the Dodo, smirking bashfully, "I
think I have almost forgotten my notes; however, I'll try." And,
throwing his head back, he shrieked out in a discordant voice--
"_Do--o--o not--a--for--r--r--get m--e--e--e_!" banging on the keys at
the same time with both pinions.
"Here! Stop! Stop!" called out the gentleman; "you'll break it! _That's_
not the way to do typewriting."
"No?" said the Dodo, innocently. "I thought it was a kind of piano. I
was singing to you, you know."
"Oh! were you?" remarked the gentleman. "Well, don't do it again,
please. I can see you won't do for us as typewriter," he added; "but
perhaps I can get you a good situation at the Zoological Gardens. What
do you say to that, eh?"
The Dodo, who during the first part of the speech looked very
crestfallen, brightened up considerably.
"Yes, I should think that would do," he said; "I'll just go and ask the
others."
"What others?" demanded the gentleman.
And the Dodo explained about Marjorie, and Dick, and Fidge, who had been
waiting in the cab all this time.
The children were at once sent for, and the whole party were shown into
the private room, where Marjorie and Dick related their marvelous
adventures, as well as the continual interruptions of the Dodo would
permit them to do.