AndpresentlyatthesamemomentPeterandBenjaminnoticedthatwhenevertheyshookthewindow——
thelittledooroppositeshookinanswer。Theyoungfamilywerealive；shutupintheoven！
BenjaminwassoexcitedthatitwasamercyhedidnotawakeTommyBrock，whosesnorescontinuedsolemnlyinMr。Tod\'sbed。
Buttherereallywasnotverymuchcomfortinthediscovery。Theycouldnotopenthewindow；andalthoughtheyoungfamilywasalive——thelittlerabbitswerequiteincapableoflettingthemselvesout；theywerenotoldenoughtocrawl。
Aftermuchwhispering，PeterandBenjamindecidedtodigatunnel。
Theybegantoburrowayardortwolowerdownthebank。Theyhopedthattheymightbeabletoworkbetweenthelargestonesunderthehouse；thekitchenfloorwassodirtythatitwasimpossibletosaywhetheritwasmadeofearthorflags。
Theyduganddugforhours。
Theycouldnottunnelstraightonaccountofstones；butbytheendofthenighttheywereunderthekitchenfloor。Benjaminwasonhisback，scratchingupwards。Peter\'sclawswereworndown；hewasoutsidethetunnel，shufflingsandaway。Hecalledoutthatitwasmorning——sunrise；andthatthejaysweremakinganoisedownbelowinthewoods。
BenjaminBunnycameoutofthedarktunnel，shakingthesandfromhisears；hecleanedhisfacewithhispaws。Everyminutethesunshonewarmeronthetopofthehill。
Inthevalleytherewasaseaofwhitemist，withgoldentopsoftreesshowingthrough。
Againfromthefieldsdownbelowinthemisttherecametheangrycryofajay-followedbythesharpyelpingbarkofafox！
Thenthosetworabbitslosttheirheadscompletely。Theydidthemostfoolishthingthattheycouldhavedone。Theyrushedintotheirshortnewtunnel，andhidthemselvesatthetopendofit，underMr。Tod\'skitchenfloor。
Mr。TodwascomingupBullBanks，andhewasintheveryworstoftempers。Firsthehadbeenupsetbybreakingtheplate。Itwashisownfault；butitwasachinaplate，thelastofthedinnerservicethathadbelongedtohisgrandmother，oldVixenTod。Thenthemidgeshadbeenverybad。Andhehadfailedtocatchahenpheasantonhernest；andithadcontainedonlyfiveeggs，twoofthemaddled。Mr。
Todhadhadanunsatisfactorynight。
Asusual，whenoutofhumour，hedeterminedtomovehouse。Firsthetriedthepollardwillow，butitwasdamp；andtheottershadleftadeadfishnearit。Mr。Todlikesnobody\'sleavingsbuthisown。
Hemadehiswayupthehill；histemperwasnotimprovedbynoticingunmistakablemarksofbadger。
NooneelsegrubsupthemosssowantonlyasTommyBrock。
Mr。Todslappedhisstickupontheearthandfumed；heguessedwhereTommyBrockhadgoneto。
Hewasfurtherannoyedbythejaybirdwhichfollowedhimpersistently。
Itflewfromtreetotreeandscolded，warningeveryrabbitwithinhearingthateitheracatorafoxwascominguptheplantation。Oncewhenitflewscreamingoverhishead——
Mr。Todsnappedatit，andbarked。
Heapproachedhishouseverycarefully，withalargerustykey。
Hesniffedandhiswhiskersbristled。
Thehousewaslockedup，butMr。
Todhadhisdoubtswhetheritwasempty。Heturnedtherustykeyinthelock；therabbitsbelowcouldhearit。Mr。Todopenedthedoorcautiouslyandwentin。
ThesightthatmetMr。Tod\'seyesinMr。Tod\'skitchenmadeMr。Todfurious。TherewasMr。Tod\'schair，andMr。Tod\'spiedish，andhisknifeandforkandmustardandsaltcellarandhistable-cloththathehadleftfoldedupinthedresser——allsetoutforsupper（orbreakfast）——withoutdoubtforthatodiousTommyBrockTherewasasmelloffreshearthanddirtybadger，whichfortunatelyoverpoweredallsmellofrabbit。
ButwhatabsorbedMr。Tod\'sattentionwasanoise——adeepslowregularsnoringgruntingnoise，comingfromhisownbed。
Hepeepedthroughthehingesofthehalf-openbedroomdoor。Thenheturnedandcameoutofthehouseinahurry。Hiswhiskersbristledandhiscoat-collarstoodonendwithrage。
ForthenexttwentyminutesMr。Todkeptcreepingcautiouslyintothehouse，andretreatinghurriedlyoutagain。Bydegreesheventuredfurtherin——rightintothebedroom。Whenhewasoutsidethehouse，hescratcheduptheearthwithfury。Butwhenhewasinside——hedidnotlikethelookofTommyBrock\'steeth。
Hewaslyingonhisbackwithhismouthopen，grinningfromeartoear。Hesnoredpeacefullyandregularly；butoneeyewasnotperfectlyshut。
Mr。Todcameinandoutofthebedroom。Twicehebroughtinhiswalking-stick，andoncehebroughtinthecoal-scuttle。Buthethoughtbetterofit，andtookthemaway。
Whenhecamebackafterremovingthecoal-scuttle，TommyBrockwaslyingalittlemoresideways；
butheseemedevensounderasleep。
Hewasanincurablyindolentperson；
hewasnotintheleastafraidofMr。Tod；hewassimplytoolazyandcomfortabletomove。
Mr。Todcamebackyetagainintothebedroomwithaclothesline。HestoodaminutewatchingTommyBrockandlisteningattentivelytothesnores。Theywereveryloudindeed，butseemedquitenatural。
Mr。Todturnedhisbacktowardsthebed，andundidthewindow。
Itcreaked；heturnedroundwithajump。TommyBrock，whohadopenedoneeye——shutithastily。
Thesnorescontinued。
Mr。Tod\'sproceedingswerepeculiar，andratheruneasy，（becausethebedwasbetweenthewindowandthedoorofthebedroom）。Heopenedthewindowalittleway，andpushedoutthegreaterpartoftheclotheslineontothewindowsill。Therestoftheline，withahookattheend，remainedinhishand。
TommyBrocksnoredconscientiously。
Mr。Todstoodandlookedathimforaminute；thenhelefttheroomagain。
TommyBrockopenedbotheyes，andlookedattheropeandgrinned。
Therewasanoiseoutsidethewindow。TommyBrockshuthiseyesinahurry。
Mr。Todhadgoneoutatthefrontdoor，androundtothebackofthehouse。Ontheway，hestumbledovertherabbitburrow。Ifhehadhadanyideawhowasinsideit，hewouldhavepulledthemoutquickly。
HisfootwentthroughthetunnelnearlyuponthetopofPeterRabbitandBenjamin，butfortunatelyhethoughtthatitwassomemoreofTommyBrock\'swork。
Hetookupthecoiloflinefromthesill，listenedforamoment，andthentiedtheropetoatree。
TommyBrockwatchedhimwithoneeye，throughthewindow。Hewaspuzzled。
Mr。Todfetchedalargeheavypailfulofwaterfromthespring，andstaggeredwithitthroughthekitchenintohisbedroom。
TommyBrocksnoredindustriously，withratherasnort。
Mr。Todputdownthepailbesidethebed，tookuptheendofropewiththehook——hesitated，andlookedatTommyBrock。Thesnoreswerealmostapoplectic；butthegrinwasnotquitesobig。
Mr。Todgingerlymountedachairbytheheadofthebedstead。HislegsweredangerouslyneartoTommyBrock\'steeth。
Hereachedupandputtheendofrope，withthehook，overtheheadofthetesterbed，wherethecurtainsoughttohang。
（Mr。Tod\'scurtainswerefoldedup，andputaway，owingtothehousebeingunoccupied。Sowasthecounterpane。TommyBrockwascoveredwithablanketonly。）
Mr。Todstandingontheunsteadychairlookeddownuponhimattentively；hereallywasafirstprizesoundsleeper！
Itseemedasthoughnothingwouldwakenhim——noteventheflappingropeacrossthebed。
Mr。Toddescendedsafelyfromthechair，andendeavouredtogetupagainwiththepailofwater。
Heintendedtohangitfromthehook，danglingovertheheadofTommyBrock，inordertomakeasortofshower-bath，workedbyastring，throughthewindow。
Butnaturallybeingathin-leggedperson（thoughvindictiveandsandywhiskered）——hewasquiteunabletolifttheheavyweighttothelevelofthehookandrope。Heverynearlyoverbalancedhimself。
Thesnoresbecamemoreandmoreapoplectic。OneofTommyBrock\'shindlegstwitchedundertheblanket，butstillhesleptonpeacefully。
Mr。Todandthepaildescendedfromthechairwithoutaccident。
Afterconsiderablethought，heemptiedthewaterintoawash-basinandjug。Theemptypailwasnottooheavyforhim；heslungitupwobblingovertheheadofTommyBrock。
Surelythereneverwassuchasleeper！Mr。Todgotupanddown，downanduponthechair。
Ashecouldnotliftthewholepailfulofwateratonce，hefetchedamilkjug，andladledquartsofwaterintothepailbydegrees。Thepailgotfullerandfuller，andswunglikeapendulum。Occasionallyadropsplashedover；butstillTommyBrocksnoredregularlyandnevermoved，——exceptoneeye。
AtlastMr。Tod\'spreparationswerecomplete。Thepailwasfullofwater；theropewastightlystrainedoverthetopofthebed，andacrossthewindowsilltothetreeoutside。
\"Itwillmakeagreatmessinmybedroom；butIcouldneversleepinthatbedagainwithoutaspringcleaningofsomesort，\"saidMr。Tod。
Mr。Todtookalastlookatthebadgerandsoftlylefttheroom。Hewentoutofthehouse，shuttingthefrontdoor。Therabbitsheardhisfootstepsoverthetunnel。
Heranroundbehindthehouse，intendingtoundotheropeinordertoletfallthepailfulofwateruponTommyBrock——
\"Iwillwakehimupwithanunpleasantsurprise，\"saidMr。Tod。
Themomenthehadgone，TommyBrockgotupinahurry；herolledMr。Tod\'sdressing-gownintoabundle，putitintothebedbeneaththepailofwaterinsteadofhimself，andlefttheroomalso——grinningimmensely。
Hewentintothekitchen，lightedthefireandboiledthekettle；forthemomenthedidnottroublehimselftocookthebabyrabbits。
WhenMr。Todgottothetree，hefoundthattheweightandstrainhaddraggedtheknotsotightthatitwaspastuntying。Hewasobligedtognawitwithhisteeth。
Hechewedandgnawedformorethantwentyminutes。Atlasttheropegavewaywithsuchasuddenjerkthatitnearlypulledhisteethout，andquiteknockedhimoverbackwards。
Insidethehousetherewasagreatcrashandsplash，andthenoiseofapailrollingoverandover。
Butnoscreams。Mr。Todwasmystified；hesatquitestill，andlistenedattentively。Thenhepeepedinatthewindow。Thewaterwasdrippingfromthebed，thepailhadrolledintoacorner。
Inthemiddleofthebedundertheblanket，wasawetflattenedSOMETHING——muchdingedin，inthemiddlewherethepailhadcaughtit（asitwereacrossthetummy）。ItsheadwascoveredbythewetblanketanditwasNOTSNORINGANYLONGER。
Therewasnothingstirring，andnosoundexceptthedrip，drop，dropdripofwatertricklingfromthemattress。
Mr。Todwatcheditforhalfanhour；hiseyesglistened。
Thenhecutacaper，andbecamesoboldthatheeventappedatthewindow；butthebundlenevermoved。
Yes——therewasnodoubtaboutit——ithadturnedoutevenbetterthanhehadplanned；thepailhadhitpooroldTommyBrock，andkilledhimdead！
\"Iwillburythatnastypersonintheholewhichhehasdug。Iwillbringmybeddingout，anddryitinthesun，\"saidMr。Tod。
\"Iwillwashthetableclothandspreaditonthegrassinthesuntobleach。Andtheblanketmustbehungupinthewind；andthebedmustbethoroughlydisinfected，andairedwithawarming-pan；andwarmedwithahot-waterbottle。\"
\"Iwillgetsoftsoap，andmonkeysoap，andallsortsofsoap；andsodaandscrubbingbrushes；andpersianpowder；andcarbolictoremovethesmell。Imusthaveadisinfecting。PerhapsImayhavetoburnsulphur。\"
Hehurriedroundthehousetogetashovelfromthekitchen——
\"FirstIwillarrangethehole——
thenIwilldragoutthatpersonintheblanket……\"
Heopenedthedoor……
TommyBrockwassittingatMr。
Tod\'skitchentable，pouringoutteafromMr。Tod\'stea-potintoMr。Tod\'stea-cup。Hewasquitedryhimselfandgrinning；andhethrewthecupofscaldingteaalloverMr。Tod。
ThenMr。TodrusheduponTommyBrock，andTommyBrockgrappledwithMr。Todamongstthebrokencrockery，andtherewasaterrificbattlealloverthekitchen。
Totherabbitsunderneathitsoundedasifthefloorwouldgivewayateachcrashoffallingfurniture。
Theycreptoutoftheirtunnel，andhungaboutamongsttherocksandbushes，listeninganxiously。
Insidethehousetheracketwasfearful。Therabbitbabiesintheovenwokeuptrembling；perhapsitwasfortunatetheywereshutupinside……
Everythingwasupsetexceptthekitchentable。
Andeverythingwasbroken，exceptthemantelpieceandthekitchenfender。Thecrockerywassmashedtoatoms。
Thechairswerebroken，andthewindow，andtheclockfellwithacrash，andtherewerehandfulsofMr。Tod\'ssandywhiskers。
Thevasesfelloffthemantelpiece，thecanistersfellofftheshelf；thekettlefelloffthehob。
TommyBrockputhisfootinajarofraspberryJam。
AndtheboilingwateroutofthekettlefelluponthetailofMr。Tod。
Whenthekettlefell，TommyBrock，whowasstillgrinning，happenedtobeuppermost；andherolledMr。Todoverandoverlikealog，outatthedoor。
Thenthesnarlingandworryingwentonoutside；andtheyrolledoverthebank，anddownhill，bumpingovertherocks。TherewillneverbeanylovelostbetweenTommyBrockandMr。Tod。
AssoonasthecoastwasclearPeterRabbitandBenjaminBunnycameoutofthebushes——
\"Nowforit！Runin，CousinBenjamin！RuninandgetthemwhileIwatchatthedoor。\"
ButBenjaminwasfrightened——
\"Oh；oh！theyarecomingback！\"
\"Notheyarenot。\"
\"Yestheyare！\"
\"Whatdreadfulbadlanguage！
Ithinktheyhavefallendownthestonequarry。\"
StillBenjaminhesitated，andPeterkeptpushinghim——
\"Bequick，it\'sallright。Shuttheovendoor，CousinBenjamin，sothathewon\'tmissthem。\"
DecidedlytherewerelivelydoingsinMr。Tod\'skitchen！
Athomeintherabbithole，thingshadnotbeenquitecomfortable。
Afterquarrellingatsupper，FlopsyandoldMr。Bouncerhadpassedasleeplessnight，andquarrelledagainatbreakfast。OldMr。
Bouncercouldnolongerdenythathehadinvitedcompanyintotherabbithole；butherefusedtoreplytothequestionsandreproachesofFlopsy。Thedaypassedheavily。
OldMr。Bouncer，verysulky，washuddledupinacorner，barricadedwithachair。Flopsyhadtakenawayhispipeandhiddenthetobacco。Shehadbeenhavingacompleteturnoutandspring-
cleaning，torelieveherfeelings。
Shehadjustfinished。OldMr。
Bouncer，behindhischair，waswonderinganxiouslywhatshewoulddonext。
InMr。Tod\'skitchen，amongstthewreckage，BenjaminBunnypickedhiswaytotheovennervously，throughathickcloudofdust。Heopenedtheovendoor，feltinside，andfoundsomethingwarmandwriggling。Helifteditoutcarefully，andrejoinedPeterRabbit。
\"I\'vegotthem！Canwegetaway？
Shallwehide，CousinPeter？\"
Peterprickedhisears；distantsoundsoffightingstillechoedinthewood。
FiveminutesafterwardstwobreathlessrabbitscamescutteringawaydownBullBanks，halfcarryinghalfdraggingasackbetweenthem，bumpettybumpoverthegrass。Theyreachedhomesafelyandburstintotherabbithole。
GreatwasoldMr。Bouncer\'sreliefandFlopsy\'sjoywhenPeterandBenjaminarrivedintriumphwiththeyoungfamily。Therabbit-
babieswererathertumbledandveryhungry；theywerefedandputtobed。Theysoonrecovered。
AlongnewpipeandafreshsupplyofrabbittobaccowaspresentedtoMr。Bouncer。Hewasratheruponhisdignity；butheaccepted。
OldMr。Bouncerwasforgiven，andtheyallhaddinner。ThenPeterandBenjamintoldtheirstory——buttheyhadnotwaitedlongenoughtobeabletotelltheendofthebattlebetweenTommyBrockandMr。Tod。
THEEND
THETALEOF
MRS。TIGGY-WINKLE
forTHEREALLITTLELUCIE
OFNEWLANDS
ONCEuponatimetherewasalittlegirlcalledLucie，wholivedatafarmcalledLittle-town。Shewasagoodlittlegirl——onlyshewasalwayslosingherpocket-
handkerchiefs！
OnedaylittleLuciecameintothefarm-yardcrying——
oh，shedidcryso！\"I\'velostmypocket-handkin！Threehandkinsandapinny！HaveYOUseenthem，TabbyKitten？\"
THEKittenwentonwashingherwhitepaws；soLucieaskedaspeckledhen——
\"SallyHenny-penny，hasYOUfoundthreepocket-handkins？\"
Butthespeckledhenranintoabarn，clucking——
\"Igobarefoot，barefoot，barefoot！\"
ANDthenLucieaskedCockRobinsittingonatwig。
CockRobinlookedsidewaysatLuciewithhisbrightblackeye，andheflewoverastileandaway。
LucieclimbeduponthestileandlookedupatthehillbehindLittle-town-ahillthatgoesup——up——intothecloudsasthoughithadnotop！
Andagreatwayupthehillsideshethoughtshesawsomewhitethingsspreaduponthegrass。
LUCIEscrambledupthehillasfastasherstoutlegswouldcarryher；sheranalongasteeppath-way——upandup——untilLittle——townwasrightawaydownbelow——shecouldhavedroppedapebbledownthechimney！
PRESENTLYshecametoaspring，bubblingoutfromthehill-side。
Someonehadstoodatincanuponastonetocatchthewater——butthewaterwasalreadyrunningover，forthecanwasnobiggerthananegg-cup！Andwherethesanduponthepathwaswet——therewerefoot-marksofaVERY
smallperson。
Lucieranon，andon。
THEpathendedunderabigrock。Thegrasswasshortandgreen，andtherewereclothes-propscutfrombrackenstems，withlinesofplaitedrushes，andaheapoftinyclothespins——butnopocket-handkerchiefs！
Buttherewassomethingelse——adoor！straightintothehill；andinsideitsomeonewassinging——
\"Lily-whiteandclean，oh！
Withlittlefrillsbetween，oh！
Smoothandhot-redrustyspotNeverherebeseen，oh！\"
LUCIE，knocked——once——
twice，andinterruptedthesong。Alittlefrightenedvoicecalledout\"Who\'sthat？\"
Lucieopenedthedoor:andwhatdoyouthinktherewasinsidethehill？——anicecleankitchenwithaflaggedfloorandwoodenbeams——justlikeanyotherfarmkitchen。OnlytheceilingwassolowthatLucie\'sheadnearlytouchedit；
andthepotsandpansweresmall，andsowaseverythingthere。
THEREwasanicehotsingeysmell；andatthetable，withanironinherhandstoodaverystoutshortpersonstaringanxiouslyatLucie。
Herprintgownwastuckedup，andshewaswearingalargeapronoverherstripedpetticoat。Herlittleblacknosewentsniffle，sniffle，snuffle，andhereyeswenttwinkle，twinkle；andunderneathhercap——whereLuciehadyellowcurls——thatlittlepersonhadPRICKLES！
\"WHOareyou？\"saidLucie。\"Haveyouseenmypocket-handkins？\"
Thelittlepersonmadeabob-curtsey——\"Oh，yes，ifyouplease\'m；mynameisMrs。
Tiggy-winkle；oh，yesifyouplease\'m，I\'manexcellentclear-
starcher！\"Andshetooksomethingoutofaclothes-
basket，andspreaditontheironing-blanket。
\"WHAT\'Sthatthing？\"
saidLucie——\"that\'snotmypocket-handkin？\"
\"Ohno，ifyouplease\'m；
that\'salittlescarletwaist-coatbelongingtoCockRobin！\"
Andsheironeditandfoldedit，andputitononeside。
THENshetooksomethingelseoffaclothes-horse——
\"Thatisn\'tmypinny？\"saidLucie。
\"Ohno，ifyouplease\'m；
that\'sadamasktable-clothbelongingtoJennyWren；
lookhowit\'sstainedwithcurrantwine！It\'sverybadtowash！\"saidMrs。Tiggy-
winkle。
MRS。TIGGY-WINKLE\'S
nosewentsniffle，sniffle，snuffle，andhereyeswenttwinkle，twinkle；andshefetchedanotherhotironfromthefire。
THERE\'Soneofmypocket-handkins！\"criedLucie——\"andthere\'smypinny！\"
Mrs。Tiggy-winkleironedit，andgofferedit，andshookoutthefrills。
\"OhthatISlovely！\"saidLucie。
\"ANDwhatarethoselongyellowthingswithfingerslikegloves？\"
\"Oh，that\'sapairofstockingsbelongingtoSallyHenny-
penny——lookhowshe\'sworntheheelsoutwithscratchingintheyard！She\'llverysoongobarefoot！\"saidMrs。Tiggy-
winkle。
\"WHY，there\'sanotherhandkersniff——butitisn\'tmine；it\'sred？\"
\"Ohno，ifyouplease\'m；
thatonebelongstooldMrs。
Rabbit；anditDIDsosmellofonions！I\'vehadtowashitseparately，Ican\'tgetoutthesmell。\"
\"There\'sanotheroneofmine，\"saidLucie。
\"WHATarethosefunnylittlewhitethings？\"
\"That\'sapairofmittensbelongingtoTabbyKitten；I
onlyhavetoironthem；shewashesthemherself。\"
\"There\'smylastpocket-
handkin！\"saidLucie。
\"ANDwhatareyoudippingintothebasinofstarch？\"
\"They\'relittledickyshirt-
frontsbelongingtoTomTitmouse——mostterribleparticular！\"
saidMrs。Tiggy-winkle。
\"NowI\'vefinishedmyironing；
I\'mgoingtoairsomeclothes。\"
\"WHATarethesedearsoftfluffythings？\"saidLucie。
\"OhthosearewoolycoatsbelongingtothelittlelambsatSkelghyl。\"
\"Willtheirjacketstakeoff？\"
askedLucy。
\"Ohyes，ifyouplease\'m；
lookatthesheep-markontheshoulder。Andhere\'sonemarkedforGatesgarth，andthreethatcomefromLittletown。
They\'reALWAYSmarkedatwashing！\"saidMrs。Tiggy-
winkle。
ANDshehungupallsortsandsizesofclothes——
smallbrowncoatsofmice；
andonevelvetyblackmole-
skinwaist-coat；andaredtail-
coatwithnotailbelongingtoSquirrelNutkin；andaverymuchshrunkbluejacketbelongingtoPeterRabbit；andapetticoat，notmarked，thathadgonelostinthewashing——andatlastthebasketwasempty！
THENMrs。Tiggy-winklemadetea——acupforherselfandacupforLucie。Theysatbeforethefireonabenchandlookedsidewaysatoneanother。Mrs。Tiggy-winkle\'shand，holdingthetea-cup，wasveryverybrown，andveryverywrinklywiththesoap-suds；
andallthroughhergownandhercap，therewereHAIR-PINS
stickingwrongendout；sothatLuciedidn\'tliketosittoonearher。
WHENtheyhadfinishedtea，theytieduptheclothesinbundles；andLucie\'spocket-handkerchiefswerefoldedupinsidehercleanpinny，andfastenedwithasilversafety-pin。
Andthentheymadeupthefirewithturf，andcameoutandlockedthedoor，andhidthekeyunderthedoor-sill。
THENawaydownthehilltrottedLucieandMrs。