第5章
ChippyHackeewasnottoofat，buthedidnotwanttocome；hestayeddownbelowandchuckled。
ANDsoitwentonforafortnight；tillabigwindblewoffthetopofthetree，andopeneduptheholeandletintherain。
ThenTimmyTiptoescameout，andwenthomewithanumbrella。
BUTChippyHackeecontinuedtocampoutforanotherweek，althoughitwasuncomfortable。
ATlastalargebearcamewalkingthroughthewood。Perhapshealsowaslookingfornuts；heseemedtobesniffingaround。
CHIPPYHACKEEwenthomeinahurry！
ANDwhenChippyHackeegothome，hefoundhehadcaughtacoldinhishead；
andhewasmoreuncomfortablestill。
AndnowTimmyandGoodyTiptoeskeeptheirnut-storefastenedupwithalittlepadlock。
ANDwheneverthatlittlebirdseestheChipmunks，hesings——"Who"s-been-
digging-upMY-nuts？Who"sbeendigging-upMY-nuts？"
Butnobodyeveranswers！
THEEND
THEPIE
AND
THEPATTY-PAN
Pussy-catsitsbythefire——howshouldshebefair？
Inwalksthelittledog——says"Pussyareyouthere？
HowdoyoudomistressPussy？MistressPussy，howdoyoudo？"
"Ithankyoukindly，littledog，Ifareaswellasyou！"
OldRhyme。
ONCEuponatimetherewasaPussy-catcalledRibby，whoinvitedalittledogcalledDuchesstotea。
"Comeingoodtime，mydearDuchess，"saidRibby"sletter，"andwewillhavesomethingsoverynice。
Iambakingitinapie-dish——apie-
dishwithapinkrim。Younevertastedanythingsogood！AndYOU
shalleatitall！_I_willeatmuffins，mydearDuchess！"wroteRibby。
Duchessreadtheletterandwroteananswer:——"Iwillcomewithmuchpleasureataquarterpastfour。
Butitisverystrange。_I_wasjustgoingtoinviteyoutocomehere，tosupper，mydearRibby，toeatsomethingMOSTDELICIOUS。"
"Iwillcomeverypunctually，mydearRibby，"wroteDuchess；andthenattheendsheadded——"Ihopeitisn"tmouse？"
Andthenshethoughtthatdidnotlookquitepolite；soshescratchedout"isn"tmouse"andchangeditto"Ihopeitwillbefine，"andshegaveherlettertothepostman。
ButshethoughtagreatdealaboutRibby"spie，andshereadRibby"sletteroverandoveragain。
"IamdreadfullyafraiditWILLbemouse！"saidDuchesstoherself——
"Ireallycouldn"t，COULDN"Teatmousepie。AndIshallhavetoeatit，becauseitisaparty。AndMYpiewasgoingtobevealandham。Apinkandwhitepie-dish！
andsoismine；justlikeRibby"sdishes；theywerebothboughtatTabithaTwitchit"s。"
Duchesswentintoherlarderandtookthepieoffashelfandlookedatit。
"Itisallreadytoputintotheoven。Suchlovelypie-crust；andIputinalittletinpatty-pantoholdupthecrust；andImadeaholeinthemiddlewithaforktoletoutthesteam——OhIdowishI
couldeatmyownpie，insteadofapiemadeofmouse！"
DuchessconsideredandconsideredandreadRibby"sletteragain——
"Apinkandwhitepie-dish-andYOUshalleatitall。"You"meansme——thenRibbyisnotgoingtoeventastethepieherself？Apinkandwhitepie-dish！Ribbyissuretogoouttobuythemuffins……
Ohwhatagoodidea！Whyshouldn"tIrushalongandputmypieintoRibby"sovenwhenRibbyisn"tthere？"
Duchesswasquitedelightedwithherowncleverness！
RibbyinthemeantimehadreceivedDuchess"sanswer，andassoonasshewassurethatthelittledogwouldcome——shepoppedHER
pieintotheoven。Thereweretwoovens，oneabovetheother；someotherknobsandhandleswereonlyornamentalandnotintendedtoopen。Ribbyputthepieintotheloweroven；thedoorwasverystiff。
"Thetopovenbakestooquickly，"
saidRibbytoherself。"Itisapieofthemostdelicateandtendermousemincedupwithbacon。AndIhavetakenoutallthebones；
becauseDuchessdidnearlychokeherselfwithafish-bonelasttimeI
gaveaparty。Sheeatsalittlefast——ratherbigmouthfuls。ButamostgenteelandelegantlittledoginfinitelysuperiorcompanytoCousinTabithaTwitchit。"
Ribbyputonsomecoalandsweptupthehearth。Thenshewentoutwithacantothewell，forwatertofillupthekettle。
Thenshebegantosettheroominorder，foritwasthesitting-roomaswellasthekitchen。Sheshookthematsoutatthefront-doorandputthemstraight；thehearth-rugwasarabbit-skin。Shedustedtheclockandtheornamentsonthemantelpiece，andshepolishedandrubbedthetablesandchairs。
Thenshespreadaverycleanwhitetable-cloth，andsetoutherbestchinatea-set，whichshetookoutofawall-cupboardnearthefireplace。Thetea-cupswerewhitewithapatternofpinkroses；andthedinner-plateswerewhiteandblue。
WhenRibbyhadlaidthetableshetookajugandablueandwhitedish，andwentoutdownthefieldtothefarm，tofetchmilkandbutter。
Whenshecameback，shepeepedintothebottomoven；thepielookedverycomfortable。
Ribbyputonhershawlandbonnetandwentoutagainwithabasket，tothevillageshoptobuyapacketoftea，apoundoflumpsugar，andapotofmarmalade。
Andjustatthesametime，DuchesscameoutofHERhouse，attheotherendofthevillage。
RibbymetDuchesshalf-wayownthestreet，alsocarryingabasket，coveredwithacloth。Theyonlybowedtooneanother；theydidnotspeak，becausetheyweregoingtohaveaparty。
AssoonasDuchesshadgotroundthecorneroutofsight——shesimplyran！StraightawaytoRibby"shouse！
Ribbywentintotheshopandboughtwhatsherequired，andcameout，afterapleasantgossipwithCousinTabithaTwitchit。
CousinTabithawasdisdainfulafterwardsinconversation——
"AlittleDOGindeed！JustasiftherewerenoCATSinSawrey！
AndaPIEforafternoontea！Theveryidea！"saidCousinTabithaTwitchit。
RibbywentontoTimothyBaker"sandboughtthemuffins。
Thenshewenthome。
Thereseemedtobeasortofscufflingnoiseinthebackpassage，asshewascominginatthefrontdoor。
"ItrustthatisnotthatPie:thespoonsarelockedup，however，"
saidRibby。
ButtherewasnobodythereRibbyopenedthebottomovendoorwithsomedifficulty，andturnedthepie。Therebegantobeapleasingsmellofbakedmouse！
Duchessinthemeantime，hadslippedoutatthebackdoor。
"ItisaveryoddthingthatRibby"spiewasNOTintheovenwhenIputminein！AndIcantfinditanywhere；Ihavelookedalloverthehouse。IputMYpieintoanicehotovenatthetop。Icouldnotturnanyoftheotherhandles；
Ithinkthattheyareallshams，"
saidDuchess，"butIwishIcouldhaveremovedthepiemadeofmouse！Icannotthinkwhatshehasdonewithit？IheardRibbycomingandIhadtorunoutbythebackdoor！"
Duchesswenthomeandbrushedherbeautifulblackcoat；andthenshepickedabunchofflowersinhergardenasapresentforRibby；
andpassedthetimeuntiltheclockstruckfour。
Ribby——havingassuredherselfbycarefulsearchthattherewasreallynoonehidinginthecupboardorinthelarder——wentupstairstochangeherdress。
Sheputonalilacsilkgown，fortheparty，andanembroideredmuslinapronandtippet。
"Itisverystrange，"saidRibby，"IdidnotTHINKIleftthatdrawerpulledout；hassomebodybeentryingonmymittens？"
Shecamedownstairsagain，andmadethetea，andputtheteapotonthehob。ShepeepedagainintotheBOTTOMoven，thepiehadbecomealovelybrown，anditwassteaminghot。
Shesatdownbeforethefiretowaitforthelittledog。"IamgladIusedtheBOTTOMoven，"saidRibby，"thetoponewouldcertainlyhavebeenverymuchtoohot。I
wonderwhythatcupboarddoorwasopen？Cantherereallyhavebeensomeoneinthehouse？"
Verypunctuallyatfouro"clock，Duchessstartedtogototheparty。
Sheransofastthroughthevillagethatshewastooearly，andshehadtowaitalittlewhileinthelanethatleadsdowntoRibby"shouse。
"IwonderifRibbyhastakenMYpieoutoftheovenyet？"saidDuchess，"andwhatevercanhavebecomeoftheotherpiemadeofmouse？"
Ataquarterpastfourtotheminute，therecameamostgenteellittletap-tappity。"IsMrs。Ribstonathome？"inquiredDuchessintheporch。
"Comein！andhowdoyoudo，mydearDuchess？"criedRibby。
"IhopeIseeyouwell？"
"Quitewell，Ithankyou，andhowdoYOUdo，mydearRibby？"
saidDuchess。"I"vebroughtyousomeflowers；whatadelicioussmellofpie！"
"Oh，whatlovelyflowers！Yes，itismouseandbacon！"
"Donottalkaboutfood，mydearRibby，"saidDuchess；"whatalovelywhitetea-cloth！……Isitdonetoaturn？Isitstillintheoven？"
"Ithinkitwantsanotherfiveminutes，"saidRibby。"Justashadelonger；Iwillpouroutthetea，whilewewait。Doyoutakesugar，mydearDuchess？"
"Ohyes，please！mydearRibby；andmayIhavealumpuponmynose？"
"Withpleasure，mydearDuchess；
howbeautifullyyoubeg！Oh，howsweetlypretty！"
Duchesssatupwiththesugaronhernoseandsniffed——
"Howgoodthatpiesmells！I
dolovevealandham——Imeantosaymouseandbacon——"
Shedroppedthesugarinconfusion，andhadtogohuntingunderthetea-table，sodidnotseewhichovenRibbyopenedinordertogetoutthepie。
Ribbysetthepieuponthetable；
therewasaverysavourysmell。
Duchesscameoutfromunderthetable-clothmunchingsugar，andsatuponachair。
"Iwillfirstcutthepieforyou；
Iamgoingtohavemuffinandmarmalade，"saidRibby。
"Doyoureallyprefermuffin？
Mindthepatty-pan！"
"Ibegyourpardon？"saidRibby。
"MayIpassyouthemarmalade？"
saidDuchesshurriedly。
Thepieprovedextremelytoothsome，andthemuffinslightandhot。Theydisappearedrapidly，especiallythepie！
"Ithink"——（thoughttheDuchesstoherself）——"ITHINKitwouldbewiserifIhelpedmyselftopie；
thoughRibbydidnotseemtonoticeanythingwhenshewascuttingit。
Whatverysmallfinepiecesithascookedinto！IdidnotrememberthatIhadminceditupsofine；Isupposethisisaquickeroventhanmyown。"
"HowfastDuchessiseating！"thoughtRibbytoherself，assheabutteredherfifthmuffin。
Thepie-dishwasemptyingrapidly！Duchesshadhadfourhelpsalready，andwasfumblingwiththespoon。
"Alittlemorebacon，mydearDuchess？"saidRibby。
"Thankyou，mydearRibby；I
wasonlyfeelingforthepatty-pan。"
"Thepatty-pan？mydearDuchess？"
"Thepatty-panthatheldupthepie-crust，"saidDuchess，blushingunderherblackcoat。
"Oh，Ididn"tputonein，mydearDuchess，"saidRibby；"I
don"tthinkthatitisnecessaryinpiesmadeofmouse。"
Duchessfumbledwiththespoon——"Ican"tfindit！"shesaidanxiously。
"Thereisn"tapatty-pan，"saidRibby，lookingperplexed。
"Yes，indeed，mydearRibby；
wherecanithavegoneto？"saidDuchess。
"Theremostcertainlyisnotone，mydearDuchess。Idisapproveoftinarticlesinpuddingsandpies。Itismostundesirable——（especiallywhenpeopleswallowinlumps！）"
sheaddedinalowervoice。
Duchesslookedverymuchalarmed，andcontinuedtoscooptheinsideofthepie-dish。
"MyGreat-auntSquintina（grandmotherofCousinTabithaTwitchit）——diedofathimbleinaChristmasplum-pudding。_I_neverputanyarticleofmetalinMY
puddingsorpies。"
Duchesslookedaghast，andtiltedupthepie-dish。
"Ihaveonlyfourpatty-pans，andtheyareallinthecupboard。"
Duchesssetupahowl。
"Ishalldie！Ishalldie！Ihaveswallowedapatty-pan！Oh，mydearRibby，Idofeelsoill！"
"Itisimpossible，mydearDuchess；therewasnotapatty-pan。"
Duchessmoanedandwhinedandrockedherselfabout。
"OhIfeelsodreadful。Ihaveswallowedapatty-pan！"
"TherewasNOTHINGinthepie，"
saidRibbyseverely。
"YesthereWAS，mydearRibby，IamsureIhaveswallowedit！"
"Letmepropyouupwithapillow，mydearDuchess；wheredoyouthinkyoufeelit？"
"OhIdofeelsoillALLOVERme，mydearRibby；Ihaveswallowedalargetinpatty-panwithasharpscallopededge！"
"ShallIrunforthedoctor？I
willjustlockupthespoons！"
"Ohyes，yes！fetchDr。Maggotty，mydearRibby:heisaPiehimself，hewillcertainlyunderstand。"
RibbysettledDuchessinanarmchairbeforethefire，andwentoutandhurriedtothevillagetolookforthedoctor。
Shefoundhimatthesmithy。
Hewasoccupiedinputtingrustynailsintoabottleofink，whichhehadobtainedatthepostoffice。
"Gammon？ha！HA！"saidhe，withhisheadononeside。
Ribbyexplainedthatherguesthadswallowedapatty-pan。
"Spinach？ha！HA！"saidhe，andaccompaniedherwithalacrity。
HehoppedsofastthatRibby——
hadtorun。Itwasmostconspicuous。
AllthevillagecouldseethatRibbywasfetchingthedoctor。
"IKNEWtheywouldover-eatthemselves！"saidCousinTabithaTwitchit。
ButwhileRibbyhadbeenhuntingforthedoctor——acuriousthinghadhappenedtoDuchess，whohadbeenleftbyherself，sittingbeforethefire，sighingandgroaningandfeelingveryunhappy。
"HowCOULDIhaveswallowedit！
suchalargethingasapatty-pan！"
Shegotupandwenttothetable，andfeltinsidethepie-dishagainwithaspoon。
"No；thereisnopatty-pan，andIputonein；andnobodyhaseatenpieexceptme，soImusthaveswallowedit！"
Shesatdownagain，andstaredmournfullyatthegrate。Thefirecrackledanddanced，andsomethingsizz-z-zled！
Duchessstarted！SheopenedthedooroftheTOPoven；——outcamearichsteamyflavourofvealandham，andtherestoodafinebrownpie，——andthroughaholeinthetopofthepie-crusttherewasaglimpseofalittletinpatty-pan！
Duchessdrewalongbreath——
"ThenImusthavebeeneatingMOUSE！……NOwonderIfeelill……ButperhapsIshouldfeelworseifIhadreallyswallowedapatty-
pan！"Duchessreflected——"WhataveryawkwardthingtohavetoexplaintoRibby！IthinkIwillputmypieintheback-yardandsaynothingaboutit。WhenIgohome，Iwillrunroundandtakeitaway。"Sheputitoutsidetheback-door，andsatdownagainbythefire，andshuthereyes；whenRibbyarrivedwiththedoctor，sheseemedfastasleep。
"Gammon，ha，HA？"saidthedoctor。
"Iamfeelingverymuchbetter，"
saidDuchess，wakingupwithajump。
"Iamtrulygladtohearit！"
Hehasbroughtyouapill，mydearDuchess！"
"IthinkIshouldfeelQUITEwellifheonlyfeltmypulse，"saidDuchess，backingawayfromthemagpie，whosidledupwithsomethinginhisbeak。
"Itisonlyabreadpill，youhadmuchbettertakeit；drinkalittlemilk，mydearDuchess！"
"Gammon？Gammon？"saidthedoctor，whileDuchesscoughedandchoked。
"Don"tsaythatagain！"saidRibby，losinghertemper——"Here，takethisbreadandjam，andgetoutintotheyard！"
"Gammonandspinach！
hahaHA！"
shoutedDr。
Maggottytriumphantlyoutsidethebackdoor。
"Iamfeelingverymuchbetter，mydearRibby，"saidDuchess。
"DoyounotthinkthatIhadbettergohomebeforeitgetsdark？"
"Perhapsitmightbewise，mydearDuchess。Iwilllendyouanicewarmshawl，andyoushalltakemyarm。"
"Iwouldnottroubleyouforworlds；Ifeelwonderfullybetter。
OnepillofDr。Maggotty——"
"Indeeditismostadmirable，ifithascuredyouofapatty-pan！I
willcalldirectlyafterbreakfasttoaskhowyouhaveslept。"
RibbyandDuchesssaidgood-
byeaffectionately，andDuchessstartedhome。Half-wayupthelaneshestoppedandlookedback；
Ribbyhadgoneinandshutherdoor。Duchessslippedthroughthefence，andranroundtothebackofRibby"shouse，andpeepedintotheyard。
Upontheroofofthepig-styesatDr。Maggottyandthreejackdaws。
Thejackdawswereeatingpie-
crust，andthemagpiewasdrinkinggravyoutofapatty-pan。
"Gammon，ha，HA！"heshoutedwhenhesawDuchess"slittleblacknosepeepingroundthecorner。
Duchessranhomefeelinguncommonlysilly！
WhenRibbycameoutforapailfulofwatertowashupthetea-
things，shefoundapinkandwhitepie-dishlyingsmashedinthemiddleoftheyard。Thepatty-panwasunderthepump，whereDrMaggottyhadconsideratelyleftit。
Ribbystaredwithamazement——
"Didyoueverseethelike！sotherereallyWASapatty-pan？……Butmypatty-pansareallinthekitchencupboard。WellIneverdid！……
NexttimeIwanttogiveaparty——IwillinviteCousinTabithaTwitchit！"
THEEND
THETALEOF
JEMIMAPUDDLE-DUCK
AFARMYARDTALE
FOR
RALPHANDBETSY
WHATafunnysightitistoseeabroodofducklingswithahen！——
ListentothestoryofJemimaPuddle-duck，whowasannoyedbecausethefarmer"swifewouldnotletherhatchherowneggs。
HERsister-in-law，Mrs。
RebeccahPuddle-duck，wasperfectlywillingtoleavethehatchingtosomeoneelse——"Ihavenotthepatiencetositonanestfortwenty-eightdays；andnomorehaveyou，Jemima。Youwouldletthemgocold；youknowyouwould！"
"Iwishtohatchmyowneggs；Iwillhatchthemallbymyself，"quackedJemimaPuddle-duck。
SHEtriedtohidehereggs；
buttheywerealwaysfoundandcarriedoff。
JemimaPuddle-duckbecamequitedesperate。Shedeterminedtomakeanestrightawayfromthefarm。
SHEsetoffonafinespringafternoonalongthecart-
roadthatleadsoverthehill。
Shewaswearingashawlandapokebonnet。