Nip Intercedes for Mousey. 79

required to do anything but nibble cheese and bacon rind, and
now the cruel cat would force it to tell a tale, or be eaten alive.
Nip had sat quietly in Job’s hand while the Summer Fairy

was talking,

and pretended to doze, with his little head sway-
ing on one side, like a flower-bell. Now he skipped down,
and clasped his arms around the mouse’s neck, whispering in
its ear.

“ Give the mouse time to think,” said Nip.

“TJ give time,” interposed the clock, striking violently.

The clock liked none of the company to use the word time
besides itself, as it was old and cranky in its ways.

“What change will half an hour make in the mouse’s wits ?”
growled the cat, and she must have been feeling hungry.

As for Job, he was so much amused by his companions
that he could do nothing but look and listen.

“T will tell a story myself, if Queen Puff will stop spinning,
so that I may hear myself speak,” said Nip.