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 discovered before he could reach the crack by which we entered。 The woman； who had a knife in her hand； struck at him with it； at the same time exclaiming； 'Bless me； nurse； here is a mouse in the closet！' Happily； she missed her aim； and he only received a small wound on the tip of his tail。 This interruption sadly alarmed us； and it was above an hour before we could have courage to venture back； when finding everything quiet； except Mrs。 Nurse's singing to her child； we again crept out； and once more surrounded the cake。 We continued without any further alarm till we were perfectly satisfied； and then retired to a little distance behind the wainscot； determined there to sleep； and to breakfast on the cake the next day。
Early in the morning I waked； and calling my brothers； we all marched forward； and soon arrived at the delightful cake； where we highly enjoyed ourselves without the least disturbance； till our appetites were fully satisfied。 We then retired； took a little run round some other parts of the house； but met with nothing worth relating。 At noon we again made our way into the closet； intending to dine on the dish on which we breakfasted； but； to our no small mortification； the delicious dainty was removed。 This you may be sure was a sad disappointment； yet as we were not extremely hungry； we had time to look about for more。 We were not long in finding it； for upon the same shelf from which the cake was removed； there was a round tin box； the lid of which was not quite close shut down； into this we all crept； and were highly regaled with some nice lumps of sugar。 But it would be endless to enumerate all the various repasts which we met with in this closet； sometimes terrified by the entrance of people； and sometimes comfortably enjoying ourselves without alarm： it is sufficient to inform you； that； unmindful of our mother's advice； we continued to live upon the contents of the same cupboard for above a week； when； one evening； as we were as usual hastening to find our suppers； Softdown； who happened to be first； ran eagerly to a piece of cheese； which he saw hanging before him。 'Come along；' said he； 'here is some nice cheese； it smells most delightfully good！' Just as he spoke these words； before any of us came up to him； a little wooden door on a sudden dropped down； and hid him and the cheese from our sight。
It is impossible to describe our consternation and surprise upon this occasion； which was greatly increased when we advanced near the place； at seeing him （through some little wire bars） confined in a small box； without any visible way for him to get out； and hearing him in the most moving accents beg us to assist him in procuring his liberty。 We all ran round and round his place of confinement several times； but not the least crack or opening could we discover； except through the bars； which being of iron； it was impossible for us to break or bend。 At length we determined to try to gnaw through the wood…work close at the edge； which being already some little distance from one of the bars； we hoped； by making the opening a little wider； he would escape： accordingly we all began； he on the inside； and we all on the out； and by our diligence had made some very considerable progress； when we were interrupted by the entrance of Mrs。 Nurse with the child in her arms。
Upon the sight of her； though much grieved to leave our brother in his distress； yet fearing instant death would be the fate of all of us if we stayed； to preserve our own existence； we retired as quick as possible； but not without her seeing some of us； for we heard her say to herself； or to the babe in her arms； 'I declare； this closet swarms with mice； they spoil everything one puts here。' Then taking up the box in which was poor Softdown （and which I afterwards learned was called a trap） she carried it intO the room。 I crept softly after her； to see what would be the fate of my beloved brother。 But what words can express my horror； when I saw her holding it in one hand close to the candle； whilst in the other she held the child； singing to her with the utmost composure； and bidding her to look at the mousy！ mousy！
What were the actions or sensations of poor Softdown at that dreadful moment I know not： but my own anguish； which it is impossible to describe； was still augmented every moment by seeing her shake the trap almost topsy…turvy； then blow through the trap at one end； at which times I saw the dear creature's tail come out between the wires on the contrary side； as he was striving； I suppose； to retreat from her。 At length； after she had thus tortured him for some time； she set the trap on the table； so close to a large fire； that I am sure he must have been much incommoded by the heat； and began to undress her child。
Then hearing somebody go by the door； she cried out； 'Who is there？ is it you； Betty？ if it is； I wish you would come and take down the mouse…trap； for I have caught a mouse。' Betty instantly obeyed her call； and desired to know what she wanted。 'I want you to take down the mouse…trap；' she replied