red in the
doorway and looked at Downy. Downy looked at her, but did not move. Then
Mrs. Posset said, "Downy come with his Possy, and put on his ittle
nightcoatie, and go to his 'ittle beddy-house?" (That's another thing,
she always talks to that mouse as if he and she were both idiots). "No!"
said Downy. "Not want any beddy-house. Possy go away!" "Come, Downy,"
said his uncle. "You have had a long day, little man, and bed is the
best place for you. Nice bed! I wish I were in mine." "Not nice!" cried
Downy. "Naughty bed! take it away! A-a-a-ah!" and the poor little boy,
who was really tired out, began to scream and cry lustily. "Hush!" cried
Uncle Jack hastily. "Hush, Downy! the bed will hear you, and then who
knows what may happen?" Downy paused a moment and looked at his uncle in
astonishment. "What _do_ you mean, Uncle Jack?" asked Brighteyes. "Beds
cannot hear."

"Perhaps their posts are their ears," said Fluff.

"Oh! Fluffy," said Puff, "you _know_ their posts are their legs, so they
can't be their ears."

But Uncle Jack looked very grave, and said, "Have you never heard the
story of Little Willy and his bed? listen then, and I will tell it to
you."

[Illustration: MRS. POSSET.]

"One night, little Willy thought he did not want to go to bed. In fact,
he felt very sure about the matter. He had had his supper and it was
half past six o'clock. There was his bed, standing firmly on its four
fluted yellow legs, the white sheet turned down, and the pillow plumped
up, looking as inviting as a bed possibly could; but into it little
Willy would not go. First he kicked, and then he screamed, and then he
did both together. 'I _won't_ go to bed!' he cried. 'I hate my bed! it's
cold, and horrid, and ugly. I will _never_ get into it! naughty bed!'

[Illustration]

"He was lying on the floor, kicking the bed as hard as he could, when
suddenly what do you think happened? I shall shock you very much, but it
is best that you should know. The bed began to move! slowly it lifted
its fluted yellow legs, slowly it marched across the room until it
reached the window, and then, if you will believe me, it coolly marched
_out_ of the window, and thump! thump! thump! off it went down the
street.

"Little Willy ran to the window, and looked out, with eyes and mouth
wide open, in great surprise. Yes, it was really true. The bed was gone;
there it went, tramping down the middle of the street. Its pillow had
fallen a little to one sid