第3章

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。