I certainly will not allow Hans ' nature to be spoiled . I am his best friend , and I will always watch over him , and see that he is not led into any temptations . Besides , if Hans came here , he might ask me to let him have some flour on credit , and that I could not do . Flour is one thing , and friendship is another , and they should not be confused . Why , the words are spelt differently , and mean quite different things . Everybody can see that . ' '' ` How well you talk ' ! said the Miller 's Wife , pouring herself out a large glass of warm ale ; ` really I feel quite drowsy . It is just like being in church . ' '' ` Lots of people act well , ' answered the Miller ; ` but very few people talk well , which shows that talking is much the more difficult thing of the two , and much the finer thing also ' ; and he looked sternly across the table at his little son , who felt so ashamed of himself that he hung his head down , and grew quite scarlet , and began to cry into his tea . However , he was so young that you must excuse him . '' `` Is that the end of the story ? '' asked the Water-rat . `` Certainly not , '' answered the Linnet , `` that is the beginning . '' `` Then you are quite behind the age , '' said the Water-rat . `` Every good story-teller nowadays starts with the end , and then goes on to the beginning , and concludes with the middle . That is the new method . I heard all about it the other day from a critic who was walking round the pond with a young man . He spoke of the matter at great length , and I am sure he must have been right , for he had blue spectacles and a bald head , and whenever the young man made any remark , he always answered ` Pooh ! ' But pray go on with your story .
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Hans Linnet Miller Pooh Water-rat critic pond right story story-teller