Alan Alexander Miln. The house at Pooh Corner -
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"Hallo, everybody," said Tigger cheerfully.
"Hallo, Tigger," said Roo.
Rabbit became very important suddenly.
"Tigger," he said solemnly, "what happened just now?"
"Just when?" said Tigger a little uncomfortably.
"When you bounced Eeyore into the river."
"I didn't bounce him."
"You bounced me," said Eeyore gruffly.
"I didn't really. I had a cough, and I happened to be
behind Eeyore, and I said 'Grrrr--oppp--ptschschschz.'"
"Why?" said Rabbit, helping Piglet up, and dusting him.
"It's all right, Piglet."
"It took me by surprise," said Piglet nervously.
"That's what I call bouncing," said Eeyore. "Taking
people by surprise. Very unpleasant habit. I don't mind Tigger
being in the Forest," he went on, "because it's a large Forest,
and there's plenty of room to bounce in it. But I don't see why
he should come into my little corner of it, and bounce there.
It isn't as if there was anything very wonderful about my
little corner. Of course for people who like cold, wet, ugly
bits it is something rather special, but otherwise it's just a
corner, and if anybody feels bouncy "
"I didn't bounce, I coughed," said Tigger crossly.
"Bouncy or coffy, it's all the same at the bottom of
the river."
"Well," said Rabbit, "all I can say Is--well, here's
Christopher Robin, so he can say it."
Christopher Robin came down from the Forest to the
bridge, feeling all sunny and careless, and just as if twice
nineteen didn't matter a bit, as it didn't on such a happy
afternoon, and he thought that if he stood on the bottom rail
of the bridge, and leant over, and watched the river slipping
slowly away beneath him, then he would suddenly know everything