第2章

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。