“Horrors!” exclaimed Nibble, “those two midnight prowlers!”
“Yes,” sighed Mrs. Ratt, “not only committing deeds of violence, but disturbing the whole neighborhood with their orgies.”
“Well, well,” said Nibble, “there’ll be an end to it some time,” and Mrs. Ratt added quickly, “Yes, if there isn’t an end to us first.”
“I wonder people put up with their behavior!” exclaimed Nibble.
“Put up with it!” echoed Mrs. Ratt, with scorn, “they like it and encourage those cats in their evil doing. Why, only the other day I happened to be peeking through the blinds and there stood a man stroking this same notorious Maria and calling her pet names.”
“The idea!” said Nibble, “and what did she do, the pampered thing?”
“Why, even then, she had her back up about something,” was the answer.
“Suppose we think of something more pleasant to talk about,” ventured Nibble, in his sweetest tones, “these cats grate on my nerves.”
Just then the baby rat cried out, “I’m hungry,” and Nibble had to give him the only cracker to eat.
“Now, what shall I do?” thought Nibble; “there isn’t a thing in my house except that old shoe, and that will only sharpen their appetites.”