round her leg; "all of them are pretty, except that one; he has not turned out a success. I wish you would try again."
"That can't be done, your grace," said the mother of the duckling. "He is not pretty, but he is very good-natured, and swims as beautifully as any of the others, and even a little better, I venture to say. I think he will grew pretty, or in time he may grow smaller. He has been lying too long in the egg, and that's why he hasn't got a proper figure." And she nipped him in the neck, and smartened up his downy coat a bit with her beak. "Besides, he is a drake," she said; "and so it doesn't matter much. I think he'11 be a strong bird, and that he'11 manage to get on in the world."
"The other ducklings are very nice," said the old duck; "now just make yourselves at home, and if you find an eel's head, you may bring it to me."
And so they made themselves quite at home.
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But the poor duckling who had come out of his shell last of all and looked so ugly was bitten, pushed, and jeered at both by the ducks and the fowls. "He is too big," they all said; and the turkey-cock, who was born with spurs and therefore believed he was an emperor, puffed himself out like a vessel in full sail, went straight for him, and began gobbling till he grew quite red in the face. The poor duckling did not know which way to turn or go; he felt very miserable because he was so ugly and was the laughing-stock of the whole duck-yard.
In this way the first day passed, and afterward things got worse and
