152 



THE RAT 



As I was saying — only I seem to be unable to 

 get up steam just at first — you bet T did not mean 

 to hurry myself. The nights were warm for May, 

 and I did not want a very big bed. I made a big 

 one in the end, it is true, but that was only because 

 I did so enjoy the making of it ; I very often never 

 slept in it at all. All animals, birds especially, 

 love to build houses just for the fun of the thing. 

 I know a good deal about birds ; I am very fond 

 of watching them. They are all of them difficult 

 to catch, but very good to eat when you do have 

 the luck to capture one unexpectedly, and eggs 

 are just delicious. I wish that you could see me 

 carry an egg downstairs. I dare say that you can 

 hardly believe me capable of taking a hen's egg 

 downstairs, and of carrying it to my hole. But I 

 assure you that I have done it, though perhaps 

 ' carrying ' is hardly the right word, because, of 

 course, I can never catch hold of it with my 

 mouth. There is no doubt that I can get it there 

 eventually. This is the process in case you never 

 have the luck to see the performance yourself. 

 When I reach the top of the stairs, after having 

 rolled the egg so far by pushing it with my nose, 

 like a dog playing football, I clasp it close to my 

 stomach with all my paws, and then come down the 



