“Oh, I don’t think so,” said Tommy.
“Me either,” spoke Johnny. “It’s just an ordinary mouse, like Suzette catches in the trap.”
“It is not! It’s a fairy!” insisted Mary. “Aren’t you a fairy, little mouse?” she asked, and she liked the mousie so that she got down off the chair, and went close to the small creature.
“Squeak-squeak,” said the little mouse.
“There, it said ‘yes-yes,’” cried Mary.
“Well, I’m glad you understand mouse language,” said Tommy. “I don’t believe that’s a fairy.”
“Well, it is,” said Mary, “and pretty soon some wonderful things will begin to happen. You had better look out.”
And just then, if you will believe me, the little mouse ran out from under the chair, just like the one that was under the queen’s throne. And the mousie ran out of the parlor, into the hall, and out of the front door, that happened to be open.
“Oh, the fairy is running away! We must run after her!” cried Mary. “It would never do to have a fairy run away, and especially the first fairy we have ever seen! Run, boys, run!”
So Tommy ran and Johnny ran, and Mary ran, and in another minute the three little Trippertrots were running after the mouse—the fairy mouse it was, I guess—for some wonderful things really happened because of that same mousie. You see, the Trippertrots had now started on their travels.