me," said Cooky, with
great politeness. "Do you know where he is now?"
pursued Pussy. "Yes, Madame, I think I do," replied
Cooky, growing bolder every minute. "Well," said
Grandmother Puss, solemnly, "that rat has caused my
good mistress a great deal of trouble, and if you
can in any way tempt him within my reach, so that I
can catch him, I promise never to harm you, or to
allow my grandson, Peter, to do so." "It's a
bargain," said Cooky, "you hide here behind this
box, and when you see me run by, with the rat after
me, you can give one spring, and catch the rogue;
but please be quick about it, or he may catch _me_."

[Illustration: Death of the Old Rat.]

So Puss hid behind the box; Cooky went as near old
Gray Rat's hole as he dared, then, giving a
frightened squeak, as though he had just caught
sight of his enemy, turned and ran with all his
speed toward the place where Puss lay concealed. The
old rat heard Cooky's squeak, and was after him in a
moment squealing out, "I'll have you now, master
Cooky, and you'll make me a nice supper." But long
before he could reach Cooky, Grandmother Puss
pounced upon the gray old rascal, and tore him to
pieces in a trice, though I fear she found her prize
too tough for dinner! Then Puss told Cooky to come
and drink milk from her dish, which he did, and then
ran off, well pleased, to his hole, taking some
bread with him to feed his poor, lame sister.

Although Grandmother Puss thought her grandson.
Peter, much too lazy to try and catch Cooky, still
she thought it safer to forbid him to go near him,
or to disturb him in any way. Now Peter didn't want
to catch Cooky, or any other mouse, so long as he
was free to do so.

But as soon as Grandmother Puss told him to let
little Cooky alone, and never to go near her, or
frighten her; Peter was at once seized with a
violent wish to do that very thing. I am sorry to
say, that many little children who should know how
to behave much better than Peter; very often feel
the same desire to do what they know is wrong. So
Peter now thought that Cooky must be the sweetest
and tenderest mouse alive. The more he thought of
him, the more his mouth watered for him. He did not
believe his Grandma would punish him much, even if
she found him out.

He even tried to persuade himself that his Grandma
was merely fattening Cooky up for her own use; and
intended to eat him herself as soon as he was in
good condition!

This went on for some ti