the life and perambulations of a mouse-第2章

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　therefore；　walked　toward　her；　in　order　to　be　by　his　favourite；　but；　upon　his　advancing　near　her；　she　suddenly　jumped　up；　without　considering　what　she　was　about；　overturned　the　water…urn；　the　hot　iron　of　which　rolling　out；　set　fire　to　her　clothes；　which　instantly　blazed　up；　being　only　muslin；　and　burnt　her　arms；　face；　and　neck；　most　dreadfully：　　she　was　so　much　hurt　as　to　be　obliged　to　be　put　immediately　to　bed；　nor　did　she　recover　enough　to　go　abroad　for　many　months。　　Now；　though　every　one　was　sorry　for　her　sufferings；　who　could　possibly　help　blaming　her　for　her　ridiculous　behaviour；　as　it　was　entirely　owing　to　her　own　folly　that　she　was　so　hurt？　When　she　was　talked　to　upon　the　subject；　she　pleaded　for　her　excuse；　that　she　was　so　frightened　she　did　not　know　what　she　did；　nor　whither　she　was　going；　but　as　she　thought　that　the　dog　was　coming　to　her　she　could　not　help　jumping　up；　to　get　out　of　his　way。　　Now　what　ridiculous　arguing　was　this！　Why　could　not　she　help　it？　　And　if　the　dog　had　really　been　going　to　her；　what　harm　would　it　have　done？　　Could　she　suppose　that　the　lady　whose　house　she　was　at；　would　have　suffered　a　beast　to　walk　about　the　house　loose；　and　go　into　company；　if　he　was　apt　to　bite　and　hurt　people？　　Or　why　should　she　think　he　would　more　injure　her；　than　those　he　had　before　passed　by？　　But　the　real　case　was；　she　did　not　think　at　all；　if　she　had　given　herself　time　for　that；　she　could　not　have　acted　so　ridiculously。　　Another　time；　when　she　was　walking；　from　the　same　want　of　reflection；　she　very　nearly　drowned　herself。　　She　was　passing　over　a　bridge；　the　outside　rails　of　which　were　in　some　places　broken　down：　　while　she　was　there；　some　cows；　which　a　man　was　driving；　met　her：　　immediately；　without　minding　whither　she　went；　she　shrieked　out；　and　at　the　same　time　jumped　on　one　side　just　where　the　rail　happened　to　be　broken；　and　down　she　fell　into　the　river；　nor　was　it　without　the　greatest　difficulty　that　she　was　taken　out　time　enough　to　save　her　life。　　However；　she　caught　a　violent　cold　and　fever；　and　was　again；　by　her　own　foolish　fears；　confined　to　her　bed　for　some　weeks。　　Another　accident　she　once　met　with；　which　though　not　quite　so　bad　as　the　two　former；　yet　might　have　been　attended　with　fatal　consequences。　　She　was　sitting　in　a　window；　when　a　wasp　happened　to　fly　toward　her；　she　hastily　drew　back　her　head；　and　broke　the　pane　of　glass　behind　her；　some　of　which　stuck　in　her　neck。　　It　bled　prodigiously；　but　a　surgeon　happily　being　present；　made　some　application　to　it；　which　prevented　its　being　followed　by　any　other　ill　effects　than　only　a　few　days　weakness；　occasioned　by　the　loss　of　blood。　　Many　other　misfortunes　of　the　like　kind　she　frequently　experienced；　but　these　which　I　have　now　related　may　serve　to　convince　you　how　extremely　absurd　it　is　for　people　to　give　way　to　and　indulge　themselves　in　such　groundless　apprehensions；　and；　by　being　afraid　when　there　is　no　danger；　subject　themselves　to　real　misfortunes　and　most　fatal　accidents。　　And　if　being　afraid　of　cows；　dogs；　and　wasps　（all　of　which；　if　they　please；　can　certainly　hurt　us）　is　so　ridiculous；　what　must　be　the　folly　of　those　people　who　are　terrified　at　a　little　silly　mouse；　which　never　was　known　to　hurt　anybody？'

Here　the　conversation　was　interrupted　by　the　entrance　of　some　gentlemen　and　ladies；　and　we　having　enjoyed　a　very　fine　repast　under　one　of　the　chairs　during　the　time　that　the　mother　and　daughter　had　held　the　above　discourse；　on　the　chairs　being　removed　for　some　of　the　visitors　to　sit　upon；　we　thought　it　best　to　retire：　　highly　pleased　with　our　meal；　and　not　less　with　the　kind　goodwill　which　the　lady　had；　we　thought；　expressed　towards　us。　　We　related　to　our　brother　Brighteyes　all　that　had　passed；　and　assured　him　he　had　no　reason　to　apprehend　any　danger　from　venturing　himself　with　us。　　Accordingly　he　promised；　if　such　was　the　case；　that　the　next　time　we　went　and　found　it　safe；　if　we　would　return　back　and　call　him；　he　would　certainly　accompany　us。　　'In　the　mean　time；　do　pray；　Nimble；'　said　he；　addressing　himself　to　me；　'come　with　me　to　some　other　place；　for　I　long　to　taste　some　more　delicate　food　than　our　mother　has　provided　for　us：　　besides；　as　perhaps　it　may　be　a　long　while　before　we　shall　be　strong　enough　to　bring　anything　away　with　us；　we　had　better　leave　that；　in　case　we　should　ever　be　prevented　from　going　abroad　to　seek　for　fresh　supplies。'　　'Very　true；'　replied　I；　'what　you　say　is　quite　just　and　wise；　therefore　I　will　with　all　my　heart　attend　you　now；　and　see　what　we　can　find。'　　So　saying；　we　began　to　climb；　but　not　without　difficulty；　for　very　frequently　the　bits　of　mortar　which　we　stepped　upon　gave　way　beneath　our　feet；　and　tumbled　us　down　together　with　them　lower　than　when　we　first　set　off。　　However；　as　we　were　very　light；　we　were　not　much　hurt　by　our　falls；　only　indeed　poor　Brighteyes；　by　endeavouring　to　save　himself；　caught　by　his　nails　on　a　rafter；　and　tore　one　of　them　from　off　his　right　fore…foot；　which　was　very　sore　and　inconvenient。　　At　length　we　surmounted　all　difficulties；　and；　invited　by　a　strong　scent　of　plum…cake；　entered　a　closet；　where　we　found　a　fine　large　one；　quite　whole　and　entire。　　We　immediately　set　about　making　our　way　into　it；　which　we　easily　effected；　as　it　was　most　deliciously　nice；　and　not　at　all　hard　to　our　teeth。

Brighteyes；　who　had　not　before　partaken　of　the　bird…seed；　was　overjoyed　at　the　sight。　　He　almost　forgot　the　pain　of　his　foot；　and　soon　buried　himself　withinside　the　cake；　whilst　I；　who　had　pretty　well　satisfied　my　hunger　before；　only　ate　a　few　of　the　crumbs；　and　then　went　to　take　a　survey　of　the　adjoining　apartment。　　I　crept　softly　under　the　door　of　the　closet　into　a　room；　as　large　as　that　which　I　had　before　been　in；　though　not　so　elegantly　furnished；　for；　instead　of　being　covered　with　a　carpet；　there　was　only　a　small　one　round　the　bed；　and　near　the　fire　was　a　cradle；　with　a　cleanly…looking　woman　sitting　by　it；　rocking　it　with　her　foot；　whilst　at　the　same　time　she　was　combing　the　head　of　a　little　boy　about　four　years　old。　　In　the　middle　of　the　room　stood　a　table；　covered　with　a　great　deal　of　litter；　and　in　one　corner　was　the　little　girl　whom　I　had　before　seen　with　her　mamma；　crying　and　sobbing　as　if　her　heart　would　break。　　As　I　made　not　the　least　noise　at　my　entrance；　no　one　observed　me　for　some　time；　so　creeping　under　one　of　the　beds；　I　heard　the　following　discourse：

'It　does　not　signify；　miss；'　said　the　woman；　who　I　found　was　the　children's　nurse；　'I　never　will　put　up　with　such　behaviour：　　you　know　that　I　always　do　everything　for　you　when　you　speak　prettily；　but　to　be　ordered　to　dress　you　in　such　a　manner；　is　what　I　never　will　submit　to：　　and　you　shall　go　undressed　all　day　before　I　will　dress　you；　unless　you　ask　me　as　you　ought　to　do。'　　Nancy　made　no　reply；　but　only　continued　crying。　　'Aye！　you　may　cry　and　sob　as　much　as　you　please；'　said　the　nurse；　'I　do　not　care　for　that：　　I　shall　not　dress　you　for　crying　and　roaring；　but　for　being　good　and　speaking　with　civility。'　　Just　as　she　said　these　words；　the　door　opened；　and　in　came　the　lady　whom　I　before　saw；　and　whose　name　I　afterwards　found　was　Artless。　　As　soon　as　she　entered；　the　nurse　addressed　her；　saying；　'Pray；　madam；　is　it　by　your　desire　that　Miss　Nancy　behaves　so　rudely；　and　bids　me　dress　her　directly；　and　change　the　buckles　in　her　shoes；　or　else　she　will　slap　my　face？　　Indeed　she　did　give　me　a　slap　upon　my　hand；　so　I　told　her；　that　I　would　not　dress　her　at　all；　for　really；　madam；　I　thought　you　would　not　wish　me　to　do　it；　whilst　she　behaved　so；　and　I　took　the　liberty　of　putting　her　to　stand　in　the　corner。'　　'I　do　not　think；'　replied　Mrs。　Artless；　'that　she　deserves　to　stand　in　the　room　at　all；　or　in　the　house　either；　if　she　behaves　in　that　manner：　　if　she　does　not　speak　civilly　when　she　wants　to　be　assisted；　let　her　go　without　help；　and　see　what　will　become　of　her　then。　　I　am　quite　ashamed　of　you；　Nancy！　　I　could　not　have　thought　you　would　behave　so；　but　since　you　have；　I　promise　that　you　shall　not　be　dressed　today；　or　have　any　assistance　given　you；　unless　you　speak　in　a　very　different　manner。'

Whilst　Mrs。　Artless　was　talking；　nurse　went　out　of　the　room。　　Mrs。　Artless　then　took　her　seat　by　the　cradle；　and　looking　into　it；　found　the　child　awake；　and　I　saw　her　take　out　a　fine　little　girl；　about　five　months　old：　　she　then　continued　her　discourse；　saying；　'Look　here；　Nancy；　look　at　this　little　baby；　see　how　unable　it　is　to　help　itself；　were　we　to　neglect　attending　to　it；　what　do　yon　think　would　become　of　it？　　Suppose　I　were　now　to　put　your　sister　upon　the　floor；　and　there　leave　her；　tell　me　what　do　you　think　she　could　do；　or　what　would　become　of　her？'　　Nancy　sobbed　out；　that　she　would　die。　　'And　pray；　my　dear；'　continued　Mrs。　Artless；　'if　we　were　to　leave　you　to　yourself；　what　would　become　of　you？　　It　is　true；　you　talk　and　run　about　better　than　Polly：　　but　not　a　bit　better　could　you　provide　for；　or　take　care　of　yourself。　　Could　you　buy　or　dress　your　own　victuals？　could　you　light　your　own　fire？　could　you　clean　your　own　house；　or　open　and　shut　the　doors　and　windows？　could　you　make　your　own　clothes；　or　even　put　them　on　without　some　assistance；　when　made？　　And　who　do　you　think　will　do　anything　for　you；　if　you　are　not　good；　and　do　not　speak　civilly？　　Not　I；　I　promise　you；　neither　shall　nurse；　nor　any　of　the　servants；　for　though　I　pay　them　wages　to　help　to　do　my　business　for　me；　I　never　want　them　to　do　anything　unless　they　are　desired　in　a　pretty　manner。　　Should　you　like；　if　when　I　want　you　to　pick　up　my　scissors；　or　do　any　little　job；　I　were　to　say；　〃Pick　up　my　scissors　this　moment；　or　I　will　slap　your　face？〃　　Should　not　you　think　that　it　sounded　very　cross　and　disagreeable？'　　'Yes；　madam；'　replied　Nancy。　　'Then　why；'　rejoined　Mrs。　Artless；　'should　you　speak　cross　to　anybody；　particularly　to　servants　and　poor　people？　for　to　behave　so　to　them；　is　not　only　cross；　but　insolent　and　proud：　　it　is　as　if　you　thought　that　because　they　are　rather　poorer；　they　are　not　so　good　as　yourself；　whereas；　I　assure　you；　poverty　makes　no　difference　in　the　merit　of　people；　for　those　only　are　deserving　of　respect　who　are　truly　good；　and　a　beggar　who　is　virtuous；　is　far　better　than　a　prince　who　is　wicked。'　　I　was　prevented　from　hearing　any　more　of　this　very　just　discourse；　by　the　little　boy's　opening　the　door　and　letting　in　a　cat；　which；　though　it　was　the　first　that　I　had　ever　seen　in　my　life；　I　was　certain　was　the　same　destructive　animal　to　our　race；　which　I　had　frequently　heard　my　mother　describe。　　I　therefore　made　all　possible　haste　back　to　the　closet；　and　warning　Brighteyes　of　our　danger；　we　instantly　returned　by　the　same　way　which　we　came；　to　our　two　brothers；　whom　we　found　waiting　for　us；　and　wondering　at　our　long　absence。　　We　related　to　them　the　dainty　cheer　which　we　had　met　with；　and　agreed　to　conduct　them　thither　in　the　evening。　　Accordingly；　as　soon　as　it　grew　towards　dusk；　we　climbed　up　the　wall；　and　all　four　together　attacked　the　plum…cake；　which　no　one　had　touched　since　we　left　it；　but　scarcely　had　we　all　seated　ourselves　round　it；　than　on　a　sudden　the　closet…door　opened；　and　a　woman　entered。　　Away　we　all　scampered　as　fast　as　possible；　but　poor　Brighteyes；　who　could　not　move　quite　so　fast　on　account　of　his　sore　toe；　and　who　likewise　having　advanced　farther　into　the　cake；　was　discovere