referred, as he said, home comforts and a nibble in the warehouse.
I knew that he would look after old Furry, whose infirmities were sadly
increasing upon him, so that I had no fear of the blind rat being
neglected.

I suspected that more than one reason induced my pie-bald brother to
decline the tour. He had struck up an acquaintance with Bright-eyes,
a lively little rat, and probably found his society more agreeable than
that of Whiskerandos, of whom he always stood somewhat in awe. I shall
not pause on the description of our underland journey through the
wondrous labyrinth of passages which, like a net-work, spreads in every
direction under the foundations of London. I saw more rats in these
gloomy lanes than I had ever imagined existed in the world. I should
have been afraid to have passed them, so fierce they looked, so ready to
attack an intruder, had not Whiskerandos been at my side. He neither
provoked contests, nor feared them-- neither gave offence willingly, nor
took it readily-- but had withal so resolute an air, that few would have
been disposed to have quarrelled with him. I was heartily glad, however,
when again we emerged into the light of day; and I was full of
astonishment at the sight of green grass and trees, such as I had never
beheld before.

"Ah!" said Whiskerandos, smiling at my delight, "you should see this
grass in the fresh spring, and those black bare trees when the bright
young leaves are upon them. The branches of yonder row seem dropping
their blossoms of gold; and how sweet is the scent of the hawthorn!
But I would not have you pass through that iron paling to examine more
closely the beauties of the garden; the square would be a charming
place, no doubt, if it were not haunted by cats."

I had never seen a cat in my life, but I started instinctively at the
name. "Take me anywhere," I exclaimed, "take me anywhere that you will,
so that I never come in sight of one of those terrible creatures!"

"I am going," said Whiskerandos, "to take you where there are cats so
huge that one could take a man's head in her mouth, or strike him dead
by a blow of her paw!"

"Oh, for my shed! Oh, for my quiet hole! for Furry, and Oddity, and my
peaceable companions!" thought I. "What folly it was to venture into the
world with such a guide as this desperado, Whiskerandos!"

I suppose that the bold rat read my thoughts in my frightened face, for
he hastened to reassure my mind. "The big cats," said he,