And as she says she loves Flaps, I leave you to guess who
got most bread-and-milk.
That was how the gipsy came to live for a time in the county gaol, where
he made mouse-traps rather nicely for the good of the rate-payers.
And that was how Flaps, who had cared so well for others, was well cared
for himself, and lived happily to the end of his days.
* * * * *
"Why, it's in print!" said Father Cock; "and I said as plain as any cock
could crow, that it was a secret. Now, who let it out?"
"Don't talk to me about secrets," said the fair foreigner; "I never
trouble my head about such things."
"Some people are very fond of drawing attention to their heads," said
the common hen; "and if other people didn't think more of a great
unnatural-looking chignon than of all the domestic virtues put together,
they might have their confidences respected."
"I's all very well," said Father Cock, "but you're all alike. There's
not a hen can know a secret without going and telling it."
"Well, come!" said a little Bantam hen, who had newly arrived;
"whichever hen told it, the cock must have told it first."
"What's that ridiculous nonsense your talking?" cried the cock; and he
ran at her and pecked her well with his beak.
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