Finn Family Moomintroll Read Free Page B

to know him?' asked the Snork Maiden.
    'We were born at the same time,' said Moomintroll, still bursting with laughter. 'But he's an impossible fellow, you know! You simply can't have him in the house!'
    'How dare you talk about Moomintroll like that!' said the Snork Maiden, fiercely. 'He's the best Moomin in the world, and we think a great deal of him.'
    This was almost too much for Moomintroll. 'Really?' he said. 'Personally I think he's an absolute pest.'
    Then the Snork Maiden began to cry.
    'Go away!' said the Snork to Moomintroll. 'Otherwise we shall have to sit on your head.'
    'All right, all right,' Moomintroll said, soothingly. 'It's only a game, isn't it? I'm awfully glad you think so much of me.'
    'But we don't,' screamed Sniff, shrilly. 'Take away this ugly king who runs down our Moomintroll.'
    And they threw themselves on to poor Moomintroll. He was much too surprised to defend himself, and when he began to get angry it was too late. So when Moominmamma came out on the steps he was lying underneath a large pile of flailing paws and tails.
    'What are you doing there, children?' she cried. 'Stop fighting at once!'
    'They're walloping the King of California,' sniffed the Snork Maiden. 'And it serves him right.'
    Moomintroll crawled out of the scrum, tired out and angry.
    'Mother,' he cried. 'They started it. Three against one! It's not fair!'
    'I quite agree,' said Moominmamma seriously. 'However, I expect you had teased them. But who are you, my little beast?'
    'Oh, please stop this awful game,' wailed Moomintroll. 'It isn't funny any more. I am Moomintroll, and you are my mother. And that's that!'
    'You aren't Moomintroll,' said the Snork Maiden, scornfully 'He has beautiful little ears, but yours look like kettle-holders!'
    Moomintroll felt quite confused and took hold of a pair of enormous crinkly ears. 'But I am Moomintroll!' he burst out in despair. 'Don't you believe me?'
    'Moomintroll has a nice little tail, just about the right size, but yours is like a chimney sweep's brush,' said the Snork.
    And, oh dear, it was true! Moomintroll felt behind him with a trembling paw.
    'Your eyes are like soup-plates,' said Sniff. 'Moomintroll's are small and kind!'
    'Yes, exactly,' Snufkin agreed.
    'You are an impostor!' decided the Hemulen.
    'Isn't there anyone who believes me?' Moomintroll pleaded. 'Look carefully at me, mother. You must know your own Moomintroll.'
    Moominmamma looked carefully. She looked into his frightened eyes for a very long time, and then she said quietly: 'Yes, you are my Moomintroll.'
    And at the same moment he began to change. His ears, eyes, and tail began to shrink, and his nose and tummy grew, until at last he was his old self again.
    'It's all right now, my dear,' said Moominmamma. 'You see, I shall always know you whatever happens.'
    *
    A little later on, Moomintroll and the Snork were sitting in one of their secret hiding-places - the one under the jasmine-bush which was hidden by a curtain of green leaves.
    'Yes, but you must have done something to change you,' the Snork was saying.
    Moomintroll shook his head. 'I didn't notice anything unusual,' he said. 'And I didn't say any dangerous words either.'
    'But perhaps you stepped into a fairy ring,' suggested the Snork.
    'Not that I know of,' said Moomintroll. 'I sat the whole time under that black hat that we use as a waste-paper basket.'
    'In the hat? ' asked the Snork, suspiciously.
    Moomintroll nodded, and they both thought for a long time. Then suddenly they burst out together: 'It must be...!' and stared at each other.
    'Come on!' said the Snork.
    *
    They went on to the veranda and crept up to the hat very cautiously.
    'It looks rather ordinary,' said the Snork. 'Unless you consider that a top hat is always somewhat extraordinary, of course.'
    'But how can we find out if it was that?' asked Moomintroll. 'I'm not going to get into it again!'
    'Perhaps we could lure somebody else into it,' suggested the Snork.
    'But that would be a