22 THE EULOGY OF RICHARD JEFFERIES. 



" Slight sounds, faint rustlings, began to be 

 audible among the cinders in the fender. The 

 dry cinders were pushed about by something 

 passing between them. After a while a brown 

 mouse peered out at the end of the fender 

 under Iden's chair, looked round a moment, 

 and went back to the grate. In a minute he 

 came again, and ventured somewhat farther 

 across the width of the white hearthstone to 

 the verge of the carpet. This advance was 

 made step by step, but on reaching the carpet 

 the mouse rushed home to cover in one run 

 like children at ' touch wood,' going out from 

 a place of safety very cautiously, returning 

 swiftly. The next time another mouse fol- 

 lowed, and a third appeared at the other end 

 of the fender. By degrees they got under the 

 table, and helped themselves to the crumbs ; 

 one mounted a chair and reached the cloth, 

 but soon descended, afraid to stay there. Five 

 or six mice were now busy at their dinner. 



" The sleeping man was as still and quiet as 

 if carved. 



" A mouse came to the foot, clad in a great 

 rusty-hued iron-shod boot the foot that 



