



          "Why not?" yelled Mop Top. 
          "Well," said the Prime Minister, "a Queen can't ride an old billy 
     goat!" 
          "You call this an old billy goat?" said Mop Top. "Look again!" 
          The Prime Minister looked again and saw that Mop Top was riding a 
     beautiful white horse. 
          "Well," he said, "a Queen can't dress in rags and carry a ladle!" 
          "You call these rags? You call this a ladle?" said Mop Top. "Look 
     again!" 
          The Prime Minister looked again and saw that Mop Top wore an 
     elegant riding suit and carried a polished riding stick. 
          "Well," he said, "a Queen can't be a dirty mess!" 
          "You call me a dirty mess?" said Mop Top. "Look again!" 
          The Prime Minister looked again and saw that Mop Top was 
     perfectly groomed, with smooth and shining red hair. 
          "Well!" said the Prime Minister. "Then you can be the Queen!" 



