"'I am only seeking a night's lodging; so I will creep into this harebell, I think.'
"I slept soundly; the wind rocked my cradle delightfully. The next morning my curiosity was gratified, when I peeped out, by seeing the Harvest-mouse pay a visit to the baby mice. Her own body was so slender, that she could easily crawl through any space in the nest: which she did; and, when she came out again, the opening was carefully covered by the meshes of fine grass blades, so that the ball was apparently entire as before.
"'Ah, ha! my lady,' I cried, jumping down beside her. 'That is the way you do it, eh?'
"The mother-mouse gave a little shriek of terror; but then, seeing it was only a Spider that spoke, she laughed good-naturedly.
"'I am not afraid of harm from you,' she said 'but there are so many horrible creatures about, ready to destroy us, that my nerves are often sadly shaken.'
"'Pooh! you must not be so timid,' I urged. 'Now, for my part, I have travelled a long distance; yet I have found no peril that I could not easily escape from.'
"'Never mind,' returned the Harvest-mouse, shaking her head. 'You will be frightened yet, depend upon it.'
"I soon found, to my sorrow, that I was to be not only frightened, but in serious danger. I was nearly killed the next moment by the ant-lion."
"What is an ant-lion?" inquired the Teapot.
"Ah! I know," sighed the Wasp.