Chapter 4

           THEOldGreyDonkey,Eeyore,stoodbyhimselfinathistlycorneroftheforest,hisfrontfeetwellapart,hisheadononeside,andthoughtaboutthings.Sometimeshethoughtsadlytohimself,"Why?"andsometimeshethought,"Wherefore?"andsometimeshethought,"Inasmuchaswhich?"—andsometimeshedidn’tquiteknowwhathewasthinkingabout.SowhenWinnie-the-Poohcamestumpingalong,Eeyorewasverygladtobeabletostopthinkingforalittle,inordertosay"Howdoyoudo?"inagloomymannertohim.

           "Andhowareyou?"saidWinnie-the-Pooh.

           Eeyoreshookhisheadfromsidetoside.

           "Notveryhow,"hesaid."Idon’tseemtohavefeltatallhowforalongtime."

           "Dear,dear,"saidPooh,"I’msorryaboutthat.Let’shavealookatyou."SoEeyorestoodthere,gazingsadlyattheground,andWinnie-the-Poohwalkedallroundhimonce.

           "Why,what’shappenedtoyourtail?"hesaidinsurprise.

           "Whathashappenedtoit?"saidEeyore.

           "Itisn’tthere!"

           "Areyousure?"

           "Well,eitheratailisthereoritisn’tthereYoucan’tmakeamistakeaboutit.Andyoursisn’tthere!"

           "Thenwhatis?"

           "Nothing."