Mrs。Tabithabecamemoreandmoredistracted,andmeweddreadfullyWhiletheirmotherwassearchingthehouse,MoppetandMittenshadgotintomischief。
Thecupboarddoorwasnotlocked,sotheypusheditopenandcameout。
Theywentstraighttothedoughwhichwassettoriseinapanbeforethefire。
Theypatteditwiththeirlittlesoftpaws——\"Shallwemakedearlittlemuffins?\"saidMittenstoMoppetButjustatthatmomentsomebodyknockedatthefrontdoor,andMoppetjumpedintotheflourbarrelinafrightMittensranawaytothedairy,andhidinanemptyjaronthestoneshelfwherethemilkpansstand。
Thevisitorwasaneighbor,Mrs。Ribby;
shehadcalledtoborrowsomeyeast。
Mrs。Tabithacamedownstairsmewingdreadfully——\"Comein,CousinRibby,comein,andsityedown!I\'minsadtrouble,CousinRibby,\"saidTabitha,sheddingtears。\"I\'velostmydearsonThomas;I\'mafraidtheratshavegothim。\"Shewipedhereyeswithanapron。
\"He\'sabadkitten,CousinTabitha;hemadeacat\'scradleofmybestbonnetlasttimeIcametotea。Wherehaveyoulookedforhim?\"
\"Alloverthehouse!Theratsaretoomanyforme。Whatathingitistohaveanunrulyfamily!\"saidMrs。TabithaTwitchit。
\"I\'mnotafraidofrats;Iwillhelpyoutofindhim;andwhiphimtoo!Whatisallthatsootinthefender?\"
\"Thechimneywantssweeping——Oh,dearme,CousinRibby——nowMoppetandMittensaregone!\"
\"Theyhavebothgotoutofthecup-
board!\"
RibbyandTabithasettoworktosearchthehousethoroughlyagain。TheypokedunderthebedswithRibby\'sumbrella,andtheyrummagedincupboards。Theyevenfetchedacandle,andlookedinsideaclotheschestinoneoftheattics。Theycouldnotfindanything,butoncetheyheardadoorbangandsomebodyscuttereddownstairs。
\"Yes,itisinfestedwithrats,\"saidTabithatearfully,\"Icaughtsevenyoungonesoutofoneholeinthebackkitchen,andwehadthemfordinnerlastSaturday。
AndonceIsawtheoldfatherrat——anenormousoldrat,CousinRibby。Iwasjustgoingtojumpuponhim,whenheshowedhisyellowteethatmeandwhiskeddownthehole。\"
\"Theratsgetuponmynerves,CousinRibby,\"saidTabitha。
RibbyandTabithasearchedandsearched。
Theybothheardacuriousroly-polynoiseundertheatticfloor。Buttherewasnothingtobeseen。
Theyreturnedtothekitchen。\"Here\'soneofyourkittensatleast,\"saidRibby,draggingMoppetoutoftheflourbarrel。
Theyshooktheflouroffherandsetherdownonthekitchenfloor。Sheseemedtobeinaterriblefright。
\"Oh!Mother,Mother,\"saidMoppet,\"there\'sbeenanoldwomanratinthekitchen,andshe\'sstolensomeofthedough!\"
Thetwocatsrantolookatthedoughpan。Sureenoughthereweremarksoflittlescratchingfingers,andalumpofdoughwasgone!
\"Whichwaydidshego,Moppet?\"
ButMoppethadbeentoomuchfrightenedtopeepoutofthebarrelagain。
RibbyandTabithatookherwiththemtokeephersafelyinsight,whiletheywentonwiththeirsearch。
Theywentintothedairy。
ThefirstthingtheyfoundwasMittens,hidinginanemptyjarTheytippedupthejar,andshescrambledout。
\"Oh,Mother,Mother!\"saidMittens——
\"Oh!Mother,Mother,therehasbeenanoldmanratinthedairy——adreadful\'normousbigrat,Mother;andhe\'sstolenapatofbutterandtherolling-pin。\"
RibbyandTabithalookedatoneanother。
\"Arolling-pinandbutter!Oh,mypoorsonThomas!\"exclaimedTabitha,wringingherpaws。
\"Arolling-pin?\"saidRibby。\"Didwenotheararoly-polynoiseintheatticwhenwewerelookingintothatchest?\"
RibbyandTabitharushedupstairsagain。
Sureenoughtheroly-polynoisewasstillgoingonquitedistinctlyundertheatticfloor\"Thisisserious,CousinTabitha,\"saidRibby。\"WemustsendforJohnJoineratonce,withasaw。\"
NowthisiswhathadbeenhappeningtoTomKitten,anditshowshowveryunwiseitistogoupachimneyinaveryoldhouse,whereapersondoesnotknowhisway,andwherethereareenormousrats。
TomKittendidnotwanttobeshutupinacupboard。Whenhesawthathismotherwasgoingtobake,hedeterminedtohide。
Helookedaboutforaniceconvenientplace,andhefixeduponthechimney。
Thefirehadonlyjustbeenlighted,anditwasnothot;buttherewasawhitechokysmokefromthegreensticks。TomKittengotuponthefenderandlookedup。Itwasabigold-fashionedfireplace。
Thechimneyitselfwaswideenoughinsideforamantostandupandwalkabout。
SotherewasplentyofroomforalittleTomCatHejumpedrightupintothefireplace,balancinghimselfupontheironbarwherethekettlehangs。
TomKittentookanotherbigjumpoffthebar,andlandedonaledgehighupinsidethechimney,knockingdownsomesootintothefender。
TomKittencoughedandchokedwiththesmoke;hecouldhearthesticksbeginningtocrackleandburninthefireplacedownbelow。Hemadeuphismindtoclimbrighttothetop,andgetoutontheslates,andtrytocatchsparrows。
\"Icannotgoback。IfIslippedImightfallinthefireandsingemybeautifultailandmylittlebluejacket。\"
Thechimneywasaverybigold-fashionedone。Itwasbuiltinthedayswhenpeopleburntlogsofwooduponthehearth。
Thechimneystackstoodupabovetherooflikealittlestonetower,andthedaylightshonedownfromthetop,undertheslantingslatesthatkeptouttherain。
TomKittenwasgettingveryfrightened!
Heclimbedup,andup,andupThenhewadedsidewaysthroughinchesofsoot。Hewaslikealittlesweephimself。
Itwasmostconfusinginthedark。Oneflueseemedtoleadintoanother。
Therewaslesssmoke,butTomKittenfeltquitelost。
Hescrambledupandup;butbeforehereachedthechimneytophecametoaplacewheresomebodyhadloosenedastoneinthewall。Thereweresomemuttonboneslyingabout——
\"Thisseemsfunny,\"saidTomKitten。
\"Whohasbeengnawingbonesuphereinthechimney?IwishIhadnevercome!
Andwhatafunnysmell!Itissomethinglikemouse;onlydreadfullystrong。Itmakesmesneeze,\"saidTomKitten。
Hesqueezedthroughtheholeinthewall,anddraggedhimselfalongamostuncomfortablytightpassagewheretherewasscarcelyanylight。
Hegropedhiswaycarefullyforseveralyards;hewasatthebackoftheskirting-
boardintheattic,wherethereisalittlemark*inthepicture。
Allatoncehefellheadoverheelsinthedark,downahole,andlandedonaheapofverydirtyrags。
WhenTomKittenpickedhimselfupandlookedabouthim——hefoundhimselfinaplacethathehadneverseenbefore,althoughhehadlivedallhislifeinthehouse。
Itwasaverysmallstuffyfustyroom,withboards,andrafters,andcobwebs,andlathandplaster。
Oppositetohim——asfarawayashecouldsit——wasanenormousrat。
\"Whatdoyoumeanbytumblingintomybedallcoveredwithsmuts?\"saidtherat,chatteringhisteeth。
\"Pleasesir,thechimneywantssweeping,\"
saidpoorTomKitten。
\"AnnaMaria!AnnaMaria!\"squeakedtherat。Therewasapatteringnoiseandanoldwomanratpokedherheadroundarafter。
AllinaminutesherusheduponTomKitten,andbeforeheknewwhatwashappening——
Hiscoatwaspulledoff,andhewasrolledupinabundle,andtiedwithstringinveryhardknots。
AnnaMariadidthetying。Theoldratwatchedherandtooksnuff。Whenshehadfinished,theybothsatstaringathimwiththeirmouthsopen。
\"AnnaMaria,\"saidtheoldmanrat(whosenamewasSamuelWhiskers),——
\"AnnaMaria,makemeakittendumplingroly-polypuddingformydinner。\"
\"Itrequiresdoughandapatofbutter,andarolling-pin,\"saidAnnaMaria,consideringTomKittenwithherheadononeside。
\"No,\"saidSamuelWhiskers,\"makeitproperly,AnnaMaria,withbreadcrumbs。\"
Nonsense!Butteranddough,\"repliedAnnaMaria。
Thetworatsconsultedtogetherforafewminutesandthenwentaway。
SamuelWhiskersgotthroughaholeinthewainscot,andwentboldlydownthefrontstaircasetothedairytogetthebutter。Hedidnotmeetanybody。
Hemadeasecondjourneyfortherolling-
pin。Hepusheditinfrontofhimwithhispaws,likeabrewer\'smantrundlingabarrel。
HecouldhearRibbyandTabithatalking,buttheywerebusylightingthecandletolookintothechest。
Theydidnotseehim。
AnnaMariawentdownbywayoftheskirting-boardandawindowshuttertothekitchentostealthedough。
Sheborrowedasmallsaucer,andscoopedupthedoughwithherpaws。
ShedidnotobserveMoppet。
WhileTomKittenwasleftaloneundertheflooroftheattic,hewriggledaboutandtriedtomewforhelp。
Buthismouthwasfullofsootandcob-
webs,andhewastiedupinsuchverytightknots,hecouldnotmakeanybodyhearhim。
Exceptaspider,whichcameoutofacrackintheceilingandexaminedtheknotscritically,fromasafedistance。
Itwasajudgeofknotsbecauseithadahabitoftyingupunfortunateblue-bottles。
Itdidnotoffertoassisthim。
TomKittenwriggledandsquirmeduntilhewasquiteexhausted。
Presentlytheratscamebackandsettoworktomakehimintoadumpling。Firsttheysmearedhimwithbutter,andthentheyrolledhiminthedough。
\"Willnotthestringbeveryindigestible,AnnaMaria?\"inquiredSamuelWhiskers。
AnnaMariasaidshethoughtthatitwasofnoconsequence;butshewishedthatTomKittenwouldholdhisheadstill,asitdisarrangedthepastry。Shelaidholdofhisears。
TomKittenbitandspat,andmewedandwriggled;andtherolling-pinwentroly-
poly,roly;roly,poly,roly。Theratseachheldanend。
\"Histailisstickingout!Youdidnotfetchenoughdough,AnnaMaria。\"
\"IfetchedasmuchasIcouldcarry,\"
repliedAnnaMaria。
\"Idonotthink\"——saidSamuelWhiskers,pausingtotakealookatTomKitten——\"I
doNOTthinkitwillbeagoodpudding。Itsmellssooty。\"
AnnaMariawasabouttoarguethepoint,whenallatoncetherebegantobeothersoundsupabove——theraspingnoiseofasaw;andthenoiseofalittledog,scratchingandyelping!
Theratsdroppedtherolling-pin,andlistenedattentively。
\"Wearediscoveredandinterrupted,AnnaMaria;letuscollectourproperty,——
andotherpeople\'s,——anddepartatonce。\"
\"Ifearthatweshallbeobligedtoleavethispudding。\"
\"ButIampersuadedthattheknotswouldhaveprovedindigestible,whateveryoumayurgetothecontrary。\"
\"Comeawayatonceandhelpmetotieupsomemuttonbonesinacounterpane,\"saidAnnaMaria。\"Ihavegothalfasmokedhamhiddeninthechimney。\"
SoithappenedthatbythetimeJohnJoinerhadgottheplankup——therewasnobodyunderthefloorexcepttherolling-pinandTomKitteninaverydirtydumpling!
Buttherewasastrongsmellofrats;andJohnJoinerspenttherestofthemorningsniffingandwhining,andwagginghistail,andgoingroundandroundwithhisheadintheholelikeagimlet。
Thenhenailedtheplankdownagain,andputhistoolsinhisbag,andcamedownstairs。
Thecatfamilyhadquiterecovered。Theyinvitedhimtostaytodinner。
ThedumplinghadbeenpeeledoffTomKitten,andmadeseparatelyintoabagpudding,withcurrantsinittohidethesmuts。
TheyhadbeenobligedtoputTomKittenintoahotbathtogetthebutteroff。
JohnJoinersmeltthepudding;butheregrettedthathehadnottimetostaytodinner,becausehehadjustfinishedmakingawheel-barrowforMissPotter,andshehadorderedtwohen-coops。
AndwhenIwasgoingtothepostlateintheafternoon——Ilookedupthelanefromthecorner,andIsawMr。SamuelWhiskersandhiswifeontherun,withbigbundlesonalittlewheel-barrow,whichlookedverylikemine。
TheywerejustturninginatthegatetothebarnofFarmerPotatoes。
SamuelWhiskerswaspuffingandoutofbreath。AnnaMariawasstillarguinginshrilltones。
Sheseemedtoknowherway,andsheseemedtohaveaquantityofluggage。
Iamsure_I_nevergaveherleavetoborrowmywheel-barrow!
Theywentintothebarn,aridhauledtheirparcelswithabitofstringtothetopofthehaymow。
Afterthat,therewerenomoreratsforalongtimeatTabithaTwitchit\'s。
AsforFarmerPotatoes,hehasbeendrivennearlydistracted。Therearerats,andrats,andratsinhisbarn!Theyeatupthechickenfood,andstealtheoatsandbran,andmakeholesinthemealbags。
AndtheyarealldescendedfromMr。
andMrs。SamuelWhiskers——childrenandgrand-childrenandgreatgreatgrand-children。
Thereisnoendtothem!
MoppetandMittenshavegrownupintoverygoodrat-catchers。
Theygooutrat-catchinginthevillage,andtheyfindplentyofemployment。Theychargesomuchadozen,andearntheirlivingverycomfortably。
Theyhanguptherats\'tailsinaroworthebarndoor,toshowhowmanytheyhavecaught——dozensanddozensofthem。
ButTomKittenhasalwaysbeenafraidofarat;heneverdurstfaceanythingthatisbiggerthan——
AMouse。
THEEND
THETALEOFMRTOD
IHAVEmademanybooksaboutwell-behavedpeople。Now,forachange,Iamgoingtomakeastoryabouttwodisagreeablepeople,calledTommyBrockandMr。Tod。
NobodycouldcallMr。Tod\"nice。\"
Therabbitscouldnotbearhim;
theycouldsmellhimhalfamileoff。
Hewasofawanderinghabitandhehadfoxeywhiskers;theyneverknewwherehewouldbenext。
Onedayhewaslivinginastick-
houseinthecoppice,causingterrortothefamilyofoldMr。BenjaminBouncer。Nextdayhemovedintoapollardwillownearthelake,frighteningthewildducksandthewaterrats。
InwinterandearlyspringhemightgenerallybefoundinanearthamongsttherocksatthetopofBullBanks,underOatmealCrag。
Hehadhalfadozenhouses,buthewasseldomathome。
ThehouseswerenotalwaysemptywhenMr。TodmovedOUT;becausesometimesTommyBrockmovedIN;(withoutaskingleave)。
TommyBrockwasashortbristlyfatwaddlingpersonwithagrin;hegrinnedalloverhisface。Hewasnotniceinhishabits。Heatewaspnestsandfrogsandworms;andhewaddledaboutbymoonlight,diggingthingsup。
Hisclotheswereverydirty;andashesleptintheday-time,healwayswenttobedinhisboots。Andthebedwhichhewenttobedin,wasgenerallyMr。Tod\'s。
NowTommyBrockdidoccasionallyeatrabbit-pie;butitwasonlyverylittleyoungonesoccasionally,whenotherfoodwasreallyscarce。
HewasfriendlywitholdMr。
Bouncer;theyagreedindislikingthewickedottersandMr。Tod;theyoftentalkedoverthatpainfulsubject。
OldMr。Bouncerwasstrickeninyears。Hesatinthespringsunshineoutsidetheburrow,inamuffler;
smokingapipeofrabbittobacco。
HelivedwithhissonBenjaminBunnyandhisdaughter-in-lawFlopsy,whohadayoungfamily。
OldMr。Bouncerwasinchargeofthefamilythatafternoon,becauseBenjaminandFlopsyhadgoneout。
Thelittlerabbit-babieswerejustoldenoughtoopentheirblueeyesandkick。Theylayinafluffybedofrabbitwoolandhay,inashallowburrow,separatefromthemainrabbithole。Totellthetruth——oldMr。Bouncerhadforgottenthem。
Hesatinthesun,andconversedcordiallywithTommyBrock,whowaspassingthroughthewoodwithasackandalittlespudwhichheusedfordigging,andsomemoletraps。
Hecomplainedbitterlyaboutthescarcityofpheasants\'eggs,andaccusedMr。Todofpoachingthem。Andtheottershadclearedoffallthefrogswhilehewasasleepinwinter——\"Ihavenothadagoodsquaremealforafortnight,Iamlivingonpig-nuts。Ishallhavetoturnvegetarianandeatmyowntail!\"saidTommyBrock。
Itwasnotmuchofajoke,butittickledoldMr。Bouncer;becauseTommyBrockwassofatandstumpyandgrinning。
SooldMr。Bouncerlaughed;andpressedTommyBrocktocomeinside,totasteasliceofseed-cakeand\"aglassofmydaughterFlopsy\'scowslipwine。\"TommyBrocksqueezedhimselfintotherabbitholewithalacrity。
ThenoldMr。Bouncersmokedanotherpipe,andgaveTommyBrockacabbageleafcigarwhichwassoverystrongthatitmadeTommyBrockgrinmorethanever;andthesmokefilledtheburrow。OldMr。
Bouncercoughedandlaughed;andTommyBrockpuffedandgrinned。
AndMr。Bouncerlaughedandcoughed,andshuthiseyesbecauseofthecabbagesmoke……
WhenFlopsyandBenjamincameback——oldMr。Bouncerwokeup。
TommyBrockandalltheyoungrabbit-babieshaddisappeared!
Mr。Bouncerwouldnotconfessthathehadadmittedanybodyintotherabbithole。Butthesmellofbadgerwasundeniable;andtherewereroundheavyfootmarksinthesand。Hewasindisgrace;Flopsywrungherears,andslappedhim。
BenjaminBunnysetoffatonceafterTommyBrock。
Therewasnotmuchdifficultyintrackinghim;hehadlefthisfoot-
markandgoneslowlyupthewindingfootpaththroughthewood。
Herehehadrootedupthemossandwoodsorrel。Therehehaddugquiteadeepholefordogdarnel;
andhadsetamoletrap。Alittlestreamcrossedtheway。Benjaminskippedlightlyoverdry-foot;thebadger\'sheavystepsshowedplainlyinthemud。
Thepathledtoapartofthethicketwherethetreeshadbeencleared;
therewereleafyoakstumps,andaseaofbluehyacinths——butthesmellthatmadeBenjaminstop,wasnotthesmellofflowers!
Mr。Tod\'sstickhousewasbeforehimand,foronce,Mr。Todwasathome。Therewasnotonlyafoxeyflavourinproofofit——therewassmokecomingoutofthebrokenpailthatservedasachimney。
BenjaminBunnysatup,staring;
hiswhiskerstwitched。Insidethestickhousesomebodydroppedaplate,andsaidsomething。Benjaminstampedhisfoot,andbolted。
Heneverstoppedtillhecametotheothersideofthewood。ApparentlyTommyBrockhadturnedthesameway。Uponthetopofthewall,therewereagainthemarksofbadger;andsomeravellingsofasackhadcaughtonabriar。
Benjaminclimbedoverthewall,intoameadow。Hefoundanothermoletrapnewlyset;hewasstilluponthetrackofTommyBrock。
Itwasgettinglateintheafternoon。
Otherrabbitswerecomingouttoenjoytheeveningair。Oneoftheminabluecoatbyhimself,wasbusilyhuntingfordandelions——\"CousinPeter!PeterRabbit,PeterRabbit!\"
shoutedBenjaminBunny。
Thebluecoatedrabbitsatupwithprickedears——
\"Whateveristhematter,CousinBenjamin?Isitacat?orJohnStoatFerret?\"
\"No,no,no!He\'sbaggedmyfamily——TommyBrock——inasack——haveyouseenhim?\"
\"TommyBrock?howmany,CousinBenjamin?\"
\"Seven,CousinPeter,andallofthemtwins!Didhecomethisway?Pleasetellmequick!\"
\"Yes,yes;nottenminutessince……hesaidtheywerecaterpillars;
Ididthinktheywerekickingratherhard,forcaterpillars。\"
\"Whichway?whichwayhashegone,CousinPeter?\"
\"Hehadasackwithsomething\'liveinit;Iwatchedhimsetamoletrap。Letmeusemymind,CousinBenjamin;tellmefromthebeginning。\"Benjamindidso。
\"MyUncleBouncerhasdisplayedalamentablewantofdiscretionforhisyears;\"saidPeterreflectively,\"buttherearetwohopefulcircumstances。Yourfamilyisaliveandkicking;andTommyBrockhashadrefreshment。Hewillprobablygotosleep,andkeepthemforbreakfast。\"\"Whichway?\"
\"CousinBenjamin,composeyourself。Iknowverywellwhichway。
BecauseMr。Todwasathomeinthestick-househehasgonetoMr。Tod\'sotherhouse,atthetopofBullBanks。Ipartlyknow,becauseheofferedtoleaveanymessageatSisterCottontail\'s;hesaidhewouldbepassing。\"(Cottontailhadmarriedablackrabbit,andgonetoliveonthehill)。
Peterhidhisdandelions,andaccompaniedtheafflictedparent,whowasallofatwitter。Theycrossedseveralfieldsandbegantoclimbthehill;thetracksofTommyBrockwereplainlytobeseen。Heseemedtohaveputdownthesackeverydozenyards,torest。
\"Hemustbeverypuffed;weareclosebehindhim,bythescentWhatanastyperson!\"saidPeter。
Thesunshinewasstillwarmandslantingonthehillpastures。Halfwayup,Cottontailwassittinginherdoorway,withfourorfivehalf-
grownlittlerabbitsplayingabouther;oneblackandtheothersbrown。
CottontailhadseenTommyBrockpassinginthedistance。AskedwhetherherhusbandwasathomesherepliedthatTommyBrockhadrestedtwicewhileshewatchedhim。
Hehadnodded,andpointedtothesack,andseemeddoubledupwithlaughing——\"Comeaway,Peter;
hewillbecookingthem;comequicker!\"saidBenjaminBunny。
Theyclimbedupandup;——\"Hewasathome;Isawhisblackearspeepingoutofthehole。\"\"Theylivetooneartherockstoquarrelwiththeirneighbours。ComeonCousinBenjamin!\"
WhentheycamenearthewoodatthetopofBullBanks,theywentcautiously。Thetreesgrewamongstheapeduprocks;andthere,beneathacrag——Mr。Todhadmadeoneofhishomes。Itwasatthetopofasteepbank;therocksandbushesoverhungit。Therabbitscreptupcarefully,listeningandpeeping。
Thishousewassomethingbetweenacave,aprison,andatumble-
downpig-stye。Therewasastrongdoor,whichwasshutandlocked。
Thesettingsunmadethewindowpanesglowlikeredflame;butthekitchenfirewasnotalight。Itwasneatlylaidwithdrysticks,astherabbitscouldsee,whentheypeepedthroughthewindow。
Benjaminsighedwithrelief。
Buttherewerepreparationsuponthekitchentablewhichmadehimshudder。Therewasanimmenseemptypie-dishofbluewillowpattern,andalargecarvingknifeandfork,andachopper。
Attheotherendofthetablewasapartlyunfoldedtablecloth,aplate,atumbler,aknifeandfork,salt-
cellar,mustardandachair——inshort,preparationsforoneperson\'ssupper。
Nopersonwastobeseen,andnoyoungrabbits。Thekitchenwasemptyandsilent;theclockhadrundown。PeterandBenjaminflattenedtheirnosesagainstthewindow,andstaredintothedusk。
Thentheyscrambledroundtherockstotheothersideofthehouse。
Itwasdampandsmelly,andover-
grownwiththornsandbriars。
Therabbitsshiveredintheirshoes。
\"Ohmypoorrabbitbabies!Whatadreadfulplace;Ishallneverseethemagain!\"sighedBenjamin。
Theycreptuptothebedroomwindow。Itwasclosedandboltedlikethekitchen。Butthereweresignsthatthiswindowhadbeenrecentlyopen;thecobwebsweredisturbed,andtherewerefreshdirtyfootmarksuponthewindow-sill。
Theroominsidewassodark,thatatfirsttheycouldmakeoutnothing;buttheycouldhearanoise——aslowdeepregularsnoringgrunt。
Andastheireyesbecameaccustomedtothedarkness,theyperceivedthatsomebodywasasleeponMr。Tod\'sbed,curledupundertheblanket——\"Hehasgonetobedinhisboots,\"whisperedPeter。
Benjamin,whowasallofatwitter,pulledPeteroffthewindow-sill。
TommyBrock\'ssnorescontinued,gruntyandregularfromMr。Tod\'sbed。Nothingcouldbeseenoftheyoungfamily。
Thesunhadset;anowlbegantohootinthewood。Thereweremanyunpleasantthingslyingabout,thathadmuchbetterhavebeenburied;rabbitbonesandskulls,andchickens\'legsandotherhorrors。Itwasashockingplace,andverydark。
Theywentbacktothefrontofthehouse,andtriedineverywaytomovetheboltofthekitchenwindow。Theytriedtopushuparustynailbetweenthewindowsashes;butitwasofnouse,especiallywithoutalight。
Theysatsidebysideoutsidethewindow,whisperingandlistening。
Inhalfanhourthemoonroseoverthewood。Itshonefullandclearandcold,uponthehouseamongsttherocks,andinatthekitchenwindow。Butalas,nolittlerabbitbabiesweretobeseen!
Themoonbeamstwinkledonthecarvingknifeandthepiedish,andmadeapathofbrightnessacrossthedirtyfloor。
Thelightshowedalittledoorinawallbesidethekitchenfireplace——
alittleirondoorbelongingtoabrickoven,ofthatold-fashionedsortthatusedtobeheatedwithfaggotsofwood。