“‘She isn’t half so bad as the barn-cat,’ said the other mouse.
“‘I know she isn’t quite so quick, but she’s too quick to suit me.’
“‘I wouldn’t go, then; tell Graywhisker to go himself.’
“‘Dear me! you don’t know him as well as I do. I must go!’
“‘Well, then, why need you go through the kitchen at all?’
“‘How in the world can I get into the chamber without? I can’t climb up the side of the house,’ said Mrs. Silverskin.
“‘Don’t you know the way through the shed? You just go through the shed, and up the stairs that lead to the loft above, where they keep stores, and you’ll find a little hole down at the right-hand corner that leads into the chamber. I helped gnaw it one night, and I know all about it. I’ve bitten off pieces of Hannah’s tallow candle more than once.’
“‘It’s a great relief to know that,’ said Mrs. Silverskin; ‘thank you for the information.’”
“And I thank her for the information too,” said the sparrow. “I can’t attend to it myself,” he added, with an air of importance, “because I’m a family man and don’t like to be knocking around nights; but our friend the house-cat will be on hand, I’ve no doubt. The sooner I inform her of the matter the better;” and he flew off in search of the house-cat.
