he soon grew quite plump.

Now, Grandfather Mole had met Mr. Meadow Mouse two or three times in
that particular gallery. And he was not slow to notice that his visitor
looked fatter each time he saw him. So one day Grandfather Mole asked
Mr. Meadow Mouse bluntly what he was doing there.

"I'm taking a stroll!" Mr. Meadow Mouse told him meekly.

"Be careful"--Grandfather Mole warned him--"be careful that you don't
take anything else!"

Trembling slightly (for Grandfather Mole could be terribly severe when
he wanted to be) Mr. Meadow Mouse said that he hoped Grandfather Mole
didn't mind if a person took a little exercise now and then in those
underground halls. "On a warm summer's day it's delightfully cool down
here," Mr. Meadow Mouse murmured.

His speech pleased Grandfather Mole.

"I'm glad there's some one that agrees with me!" he exclaimed. "Most
people think I'm queer because I like to live underground."

Mr. Meadow Mouse hastened to assure him that _he_ didn't think him
queer--not in the least!

"Thank you! Thank you!" Grandfather Mole said. "And since you're a
person of more sense than I had supposed you're welcome to ramble
through my halls--so long as you don't take anything except exercise and
a stroll."

Then it was Mr. Meadow Mouse's turn to thank Grandfather Mole.

"I feel better," he said, "now that you've given me permission to come
here. For to tell the truth, I've often felt that I was taking a
chance."

So matters went on smoothly for a time. And Mr. Meadow Mouse spent hours
in the gallery under the cornfield. And he grew fatter every day.
Naturally he did not take such pains to dodge Grandfather Mole--after
the talk they had had. And when the two met one evening Grandfather Mole
stopped Mr. Meadow Mouse.

"There's something I want to say to you," he remarked. "I notice you're
looking extremely well-fed. And I hope you're not eating any of my
angleworms."

Mr. Meadow Mouse laughed right in Grandfather Mole's face.

"Oh, no!" he replied.

"Nor any of my grubs or bugs?" Grandfather Mole persisted.

"Certainly not!" said Mr. Meadow Mouse, making a wry face as he
spoke--for he was rather a dainty person. And then he whispered
something to Grandfather Mole.

"Oh!" said Grandfather Mole. "So that's it, eh? Well, I don't mind. I
never eat anything of that sort. Take all you want of it!"

XVII

MR. CROW SCOLDS

OLD Mr. Crow was angry with Grandfather Mole.

Now, there was no