kept below stairs, or
she would not have allowed it, for she was very fond of mice. Mr. and
Mrs. Mouse knew they were perfectly safe with her, but they were not at
all as sure of her maid, who looked very cross and grumpy. So things
went on for some time very happily, and Mrs. Mouse began to look about
for a good place to put her babies in, for she had fifteen of them. She
found a large bottle under the wardrobe at one end, and so she told her
husband she would put them there. It was not very nice of Mr. Mouse, but
he disliked those babies. He thought them hideous, nasty little things,
without any hair at all on their bodies, and he thought them horrid for
the perpetual squeaking they kept up. He also said that he thought Mrs.
Mouse might very well have been satisfied with half the number; but he
only said that once, for his wife fired up in a moment, and said he was
most unkind, and that he ought to be proud of such a family, for some
lady mice had so little pride that they only had six or seven.

"Nobody can say that of me," said Mrs. Mouse, holding up her nose in the
air; and poor Mr. Mouse gave in utterly, and only ventured an occasional
snort every now and then, when one of the fifteen babies squeaked more
shrilly than usual.

Mrs. Mouse put her babies in the bottle, and they grew up into fine big
mice, nearly as big as their father. But these young mice were very
noisy; they tore about, and squeaked even in broad daylight, so that the
cross maid looked crosser, and at last told her mistress.

"Them mice are not to be borne, mum, and I'll set a trap."

The old lady said she would not have a trap set, and the dear little
things killed, so for some days the mice continued to squeak and scamper
as much as ever. But the maid, thinking matters were going too far, got
the trap, without saying anything to her mistress, and putting some
toasted cheese in it, set it under the wardrobe.

Vainly did Mr. and Mrs. Mouse say to their children, in the most solemn
tones, "Don't go near that cage; I don't quite know what it is, but I'm
sure it is dangerous." The young ones did not mind them. They thought
they would only go and look at it, and then the toasted cheese smelled
so _very_ good, it could do no harm just to try and taste it; and so
_five_ of them were caught, and next morning were given to the cat.

All the other brothers and sisters went into deep mourning, and could be
seen wiping their eyes with their tails a gre