Dr. Herbert Benjamin
“What you are,” said the Professor.
“Oh,” said Henry, puzzled. “What I
am
is in that
book?”
“What
everything
is, is in this book,” said
Professor Parrot proudly, “But nothing is in it but
words. Funny thing, isn’t it?”
Professor Parrot’s chest swelled with pride. He
went on: “I learned words by imitating the bird-keeper
People at the zoo. I was the most advanced parrot in
captivity. I had a very high I.Q., and a very
very
large
vocabulary.”
“What’s a vocabulary?” asked Henry.
“That’s the number of words you have in your
head,” said Professor Pickle. “What I don’t have in my
head is in my library here.” And he patted the
dictionary.
“Are you going to bring it back to the zoo some
time?” asked Henry.
Professor Parrot frowned. “That’s a problem,” he
said. “I have to bring, it back sometime, I guess, but I
keep postponing it. I didn’t like captivity, even though I
grew up there, and the People were very nice to me.
They might put me back in with the other birds, and I
rather like freedom better. Not that I’m ungrateful,” said
the Professor. “Now, the People were very. . . ”
“
Professor!
” interrupted Perry. “
Please!
What is
he? I’m
dying
of curiosity!”
“Oh yes,” said the Professor, and he began to look
very business-like. “That’s right,” he said, “let’s get to
business. I always get to talking when I think of the old
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