THE BLOOMERS AND THE RATS. 
45 
Eliza was terrified at the very name of them ; so she quietly 
■drew the clothes over her head, and crouching close up to 
her cousins, lay as if dead. The younger cousin, to satisfy 
her, put her hand out of bed, and picking up one of her 
boots, threw it in the direction of the noise, and, it is thought, 
knocked down the Bloomer hat ; however, for a few minutes 
4ill was still again, which gave ])oor Eliza time to breathe. 
Presently the noise returned, followed by a second, and a 
third ; after them came plenty more ; and then there was a 
clatter, clatter, which preceded a hurry, scurry, interspersed 
with sundry lumps and bumps, which sounded as if they were 
playing with cobbler s lapstones. Then came other hideous 
rounds, till at last you would have thought there were at 
least a dozen coach-horses dancing a polka. In the midst of 
;all, then commenced a most terrific battle, which ultimately 
proved to be a contest for the Bloomers ; and to such a pitch of 
desperation did they carry the conflict, that the two cousins, 
for the first time in their lives, were literally scared ; and, 
like poor Eliza, tremblingly hid their heads beneath the 
•clothes to shield them from these daring burglars. There 
they lay steaming and quaking, when their father, from the 
bottom of the stairs, called out to know what noise that was ; 
and, not receiving an answer, he called out three times ; but 
they were too terrified to answer, or even put their heads 
out, hence he concluded they were fast asleep, and returned 
to his bed. But his calling out startled all the rats; nor did 
they return, at least while the girls were awake ; for there 
they lay listening and listening, till every sense grew dim 
and weary, when Morpheus, entwining them in his leaden 
arms, at length lulled them to sleep. 
The following morning, the dame was up betimes to get 
her husband's breakfast ready, and put everything in prim 
order for the comfort of her guest. Hour after hour rolled 
on, till the clock struck ten, when the good man returned 
for his luncheon. — " What 1 the girls not stirring yet, dame?" 
^^No, she had heard nothing of them ; but she supposed they 
were tired ! " " Well, just get us a jug of ale, an' then go an' 
. wake 'em up, or they'll sleep all day, mon." The ale was 
soon on the table, and up to their bedroom she went and 
knocked, but received no answer ; for, what with their being 
