斯芬克斯的尾巴

Belinda

A DOG of a taciturn disposition said to his Tail:

"Whenever I am angry, you rise and bristle; when I am pleased, you

wag; when I am alarmed, you tuck yourself in out of danger. You

are too mercurial - you disclose all my emotions. My notion is

that tails are given to conceal thought. It is my dearest ambition

to be as impassive as the Sphinx."

"My friend, you must recognise the laws and limitations of your

being," replied the Tail, with flexions appropriate to the

sentiments uttered, "and try to be great some other way. The

Sphinx has one hundred and fifty qualifications for impassiveness

which you lack."

"What are they?" the Dog asked.

"One hundred and forty-nine tons of sand on her tail."

"And - ?"

"A stone tail."