over now. Brighteyes heard the crash, and knew that
something dreadful must have happened. The angry rooster was fluttering
and pecking at her feet, and the poor mouse, half-wild with fright,
sprang up once more and rushed out of the barn-yard, forgetting in her
haste to shut the gate behind her. She never stopped till she had gained
the shade of the apple-trees, and there she sat down panting on the
grass.

"Oh dear!" she cried, "I will never try to do things out of story-books
again as long as I live. Whenever I do it, I am sure to get into
trouble. The other day Uncle Jack showed me a picture in _Punch_, of
some children putting out their tongues when they met the doctor, and he
laughed, and said it was very funny, and so it was: so then the next
time I met our doctor, I put out my tongue, but he didn't laugh, and
Mrs. Posset put red pepper on my tongue, to teach me better manners. And
now, just because I wanted to do what Violet did, all these dreadful
things have happened. But oh!" and she sprang to her feet, "I must do
something about my dress, or Mrs. Posset will say, I am 'a sight to
behold!' She always says that, and I am so tired of hearing it. If I
were to roll on the grass, now! we always wipe our shoes on the grass,
when they are muddy, before we go into the house."

Certainly, the dress was in a very forlorn condition, being covered with
egg behind, while the front of the skirt showed a number of dismal rents
made by the beak and claws of the angry rooster. I did not think it
would be improved by rolling on the grass, but I could not well do
anything about it.

A pretty sight Miss Brighteyes was when she got up again. Egg and grass
and mud were worked and rolled together into an even tint of brownish
green, all over her skirts, while through the holes her scarlet
petticoat looked out indignantly, blushing for its owner's misdeeds. At
least, that is what my dog said about it, and he has a very pretty way
of putting things. However, Missy Mouse was quite satisfied that she had
done all she could in the matter, so she went on her way rejoicing.

Presently she heard voices, and she came upon Puff and Fluff, who,
having put all their children to sleep, had come out to spend the rest
of the bright, sunny morning in the garden. They had got out their
gardening tools, and were hard at work in one of the flower-beds.

"What are you doing, Twinnies?" asked Brighteyes as she came up. "And
where is Tomty?"

"To