(no subject)
"But don't you understand that you must go to school?"
"Why?"
"To learn things, of course."
"What sorts of things?" asked Pippi.
"All sorts," said the policeman. "Lots of useful things - the multiplication tables, for instance."
"I have got along fine without any pluttification tables for nine years," said Pippi, "and I guess I'll get along without it from now on, too."
"Yes, but just think of how embarrassing it will be for you to be so ignorant. Imagine when you grow up and somebody asks you what the capital of Portugal is, and you can't answer!"
"Oh, I can answer all right," said Pippi. "I'll answer like this: 'If you are so bound and determined to find out what the capital of Portugal is, then, for goodness' sakes, write directly to Portugal and ask.'"
"Yes, but don't you think you would be very sorry not to know it yourself?"
"Oh, probably," said Pippi. "No doubt I should lie awake nights and wonder and wonder, 'What in the world is the capital of Portugal?' But one can't be having fun all the time," she continued, bending over and standing on her hands for a change. "For that matter, I've been to Lisbon with my papa," she added, still standing upside down, for she could talk that way too.
"Why?"
"To learn things, of course."
"What sorts of things?" asked Pippi.
"All sorts," said the policeman. "Lots of useful things - the multiplication tables, for instance."
"I have got along fine without any pluttification tables for nine years," said Pippi, "and I guess I'll get along without it from now on, too."
"Yes, but just think of how embarrassing it will be for you to be so ignorant. Imagine when you grow up and somebody asks you what the capital of Portugal is, and you can't answer!"
"Oh, I can answer all right," said Pippi. "I'll answer like this: 'If you are so bound and determined to find out what the capital of Portugal is, then, for goodness' sakes, write directly to Portugal and ask.'"
"Yes, but don't you think you would be very sorry not to know it yourself?"
"Oh, probably," said Pippi. "No doubt I should lie awake nights and wonder and wonder, 'What in the world is the capital of Portugal?' But one can't be having fun all the time," she continued, bending over and standing on her hands for a change. "For that matter, I've been to Lisbon with my papa," she added, still standing upside down, for she could talk that way too.