There, lying under a toad-stool, was a Field Mouse, fast asleep
Oh, how happy our little dog felt! His heart grew so light that he did not feel it at all. Father Swallow patted him on the back and said “Good-bye” at once, promising to send him a postal as soon as his son was better.
The Field Mouse apologized for having fallen asleep, and guided Ready to a dinner of nice meaty bones in an old pan near a barn.
“You were so late coming,” she said, “and the sun was so warm, that I somehow lost myself for a few moments. It is just as well you are late, as the Sandpiper telephoned that his wife had a seamstress this morning and so he could not get here on time. You must wait here until you hear him calling you from the beach.”
With these words the Field Mouse said “Good-bye,” and scudded off through the long grass.
CHAPTER VIII
A DREADFUL VISITOR
Ready finished his dinner slowly, stretched himself out in the grass, and waited for the Sandpiper to appear. He was quite near the beach now and knew, of course, that the Sandpiper would take him along the water’s edge.
How he hoped he would not have a long wait! Life lately had been so full of waiting, waiting, nothing but waiting!