There was a silence, broken at last by Rosamond. "Cecil, I have
been tumbled about the world a good deal more than you have, and I
never found that one got any good by disregarding the warnings of
the natives. There's an immense deal in the cat and the cock."
"I do not understand, said Cecil.
Whereupon Rosamond, in a voice as if she were telling the story to a
small child, began: "Once upon a time there was a wee bit
mousiekie, that lived in Giberatie O--that trotted out of her hole
upon an exploring expedition. By and by she came scuttling back in
a state of great trepidation--in fact, horribly nervous. 'Mother,
mother!' said the little mouse, 'I've seen a hideous monster, with a
red face, and a voice like a trumpet, and a pair of spurs.'"
"Of course, I know that," broke in Cecil.
"Ah, you haven't heard all. 'I should have died of terror,' said
the little mouse, 'only that I saw a dear sweet graceful creature,
with a lovely soft voice, and a smooth coat, and the most beautiful
eyes, and the most exquisite pathetic expression in her smile; and
she held out her velvet paw to me, and said, 'Dear little mousiekie-
pousie, you're the loveliest creature I ever met, quite
unappreciated in these parts.
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