l, I go to school, if that's what you mean. Not now, though,
because it's summer vacation."

"And what do they teach you there?"

"Oh, reading and writing and arithmetic, and things like that."

"Aha!" said the Phoenix triumphantly. "Just as I suspected--a
classical education. Understand me--I have nothing against a
classical education as such. I realize that mathematics, Greek, and
Latin are excellent for the discipline of the mind. But in the broad
view, a classical education is not a true education. Life is real,
life is earnest. One must face it with a _practical_ education. The
problems of Life, my dear fellow!--classical education completely
ignores them! For example, how do you tell a true Unicorn from a false
one?"

"I--I don't know."

"I thought not. Where do you find the Philosopher's Stone?"

"I don't know."

"Well, then, I shall ask a simple one. What is the first rule of
defense when attacked by a Chimera?"

David squirmed uncomfortably. "I'm afraid I don't know that, either,"
he said in a small voice.

"There you are!" cried the Phoenix. "You do not have a true, practical
education--you are not ready for Life. I, my boy, am going to take
your education in hand."

"Oh," said David. "Do you mean--are you going to give me--lessons?"
Through his mind flashed a picture of the Phoenix (with spectacles on
its beak and a ruler in its wing) writing out sentences on a
blackboard. The thought gave him a sinking feeling. After all, it was
summer--and summer was supposed to be vacation time.

"And what an education it will be!" the Phoenix went on, ignoring his
question. "Absolutely without equal! The full benefit of my vast
knowledge, plus a number of trips to--"

"Oh, _traveling_!" said David, suddenly feeling much better. "That's
different. Oh, Phoenix, that'll be wonderful! Where will we go?"

"Everywhere, my boy!" said the Phoenix, with an airy wave of its wing.
"To all corners of the earth. We shall visit my friends and
acquaintances."

"Oh, do you have--"

"Of course, my boy! I am nothing if not a good mixer. My acquaintances
(to mention but a few) include Fauns, Dragons, Unicorns, Trolls,
Gryffins, Gryffons, Gryffens--"

"Excuse me," David interrupted. "What were those last three, please?"

"Gryffins," explained the Phoenix, "are the small, reddish, friendly
ones. Gryffons are the quick-tempered proud ones. Gryffens--ah, well,
the most anyone can say for them is that they are harmless. Th