The elves thought it not quite polite.
The air was so close within, that Spider Eyes’ head began to swim, and Chip Wing, seeing him stagger, ran to open the door just a little bit.
As soon as Mrs. Mouse saw him do it, she turned around and gave Spider Eyes a slap with her paw which knocked him quite over.
“I thought I told you to shut the door. Did you not hear me? It makes such a draft the children will take cold.”
This made Chip Wing angry, and he shut the door with a bang.
“I will pay you for that,” said Mrs. Mouse. “You must count the kernels in this stalk of wheat. I will punish you for setting my nerves all ajar. And you, Dusty Cap, take some straw and patch up that hole in the side of the house. Pointed Toes, you must sweep the floor; and you, Spider Eyes, must take care of my dear children. Keep them asleep. And, mind you, if I find anything wrong when I come home, I will attend to you all.”
She left them with a warning nod of her head, and each elf went to his task with a heavy heart.
“What right had she to do this? She is not our Queen! We need not follow her commands!” exclaimed Spider Eyes, turning to his brothers three.
“This is not what she said she would do,” said Chip Wing. “She promised to show us the way to the beautiful world. I tell you what, we will not stand this long. We will leave this place in a hurry.”