n them, and when that was done, they started at full
gallop along the top of a square piano. Of course, care was taken to
turn them back when they reached the end; but they soon learned to turn
of their own accord, and performed their journey with as much regularity
as well-trained horses. Death deprived me of my steeds; but I suspect it
was in consequence of the injudicious cramming which I bestowed upon my
favourites.

During an illness of some week's duration, mice were to me a source both
of amusement and annoyance; the former certainly predominating. A
wainscot ledge ran round the room in which I lay, and it was their
delight to scamper after one another upon this projection; but as the
head of my curtain-less bed was close to it, they so frequently diverged
on to my face, that I was obliged to have it drawn at least a yard from
the wall. Sometimes also, they dragged away my pocket handkerchief,
which, from not being immediately missed, was not recovered till sundry
holes had been nibbled in it. A small table stood by my bed-side; having
on it a basin full of cold tea, which formed my night beverage. On one
occasion, my light was extinguished, and I heard a scratching against
the legs of the table. I guessed the cause, and tried to frighten the
climber away; but I suspect he mounted by the bed clothes, for I
presently heard something flop into the tea. All was silent; and I
concluded the intruder was drowned; but of course, whatever my thirst, I
did not attempt to drink. When daylight came, there sat a poor mouse,
holding up his little chin just above the liquid. Had he moved he must
have been suffocated; and he had been all those hours in this position.
It was impossible to take away a life so hardly earned, and he was
allowed to rejoin his companions.

The head-quarters of my mice seemed to be a large closet in one corner
of the room, from which they constantly issued, and to which they
retreated on the least alarm, for it was always accessible, in
consequence of the door not closing properly. They often appeared to me
to hold a council, for they would sally forth in a body; not giddily,
and as if by chance, but with all the gravity of diplomatic characters,
and form a circle, when deliberations commenced. They were carried on
in a language between a squeak and a chatter, and occasionally one would
rise, and place himself in another part of the circle. I would have
given a great deal to have understood what was