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。