96 Fairy Tales

different, particularly when he moved so
softly. They tried—for Dick’s sake—to
look pleased if he stalked down the path
behind his master, or lay blinking under
the sun-dial in the gay sunshine. But, try
as they would, they often shook, especially
the harvest-mouse, who had many things, as
she said, to make her nervous.

If you could have seen that garden you
would have agreed that it was delightful.
There were tidy parts where the gardeners
were always mowing and raking, and not so
much as a fluttering leaf was allowed to rest
itself, but there were other spots—Dick’s
spots-—where they only came once in a way,
just to see that the tangle did not grow too
thick, or that the creepers did not choke the
trees, or that the sun could reach the old
dial. Some of the creatures thought this
a most terrible time, and it was true that
generally somebody suffered, but it was also
true that the thinning made it pleasanter for
those that were left. There was another
thing to be said. When the men came in