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。