the life and perambulations of a mouse(小耗子游记)-第3章
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the least noise at my entrance； no one observed me for some time； so
creeping under one of the beds； I heard the following discourse：
'It does not signify； miss；' said the woman； who I found was the
children's nurse； 'I never will put up with such behaviour： you know that
I always do everything for you when you speak prettily； but to be ordered
to dress you in such a manner； is what I never will submit to： and you
shall go undressed all day before I will dress you； unless you ask me as
you ought to do。' Nancy made no reply； but only continued crying。
'Aye！ you may cry and sob as much as you please；' said the nurse； 'I do not
care for that： I shall not dress you for crying and roaring； but for being
good and speaking with civility。' Just as she said these words； the door
opened； and in came the lady whom I before saw； and whose name I
afterwards found was Artless。 As soon 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
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THE LIFE AND PERAMBULATIONS OF A MOUSE （1783…1784）
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
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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
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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 holdin
