Let that sugar-bowl alone, Posy, said Tom, as Posy extracted a lump while they were waiting for Papa and Mamma to come down to breakfast.

I m not taking it formyself, answered Posy, as plainly as the large lump in her mouth permitted her to speak; I m only just getting a lump for Dicky.

That s a story, said Tom.

I was only just tasting it to see if it was a real sweet lump, said Posy very distinctly now, for the lump had disappeared. I didn t mean to eat it, but it went all to pieces in my mouth.

You might have known it would, said Tom.

I guess I d better pick out a real hard lump next time, said Posy; and she made up her mind not to put that one in her mouth, so she only lapped it a little as she walked towards the canary s cage.

Just then a noise was heard from the china-closet, and Tom at once went to see what it was.

Why, there s a mouse-hole right in the corner of that upper shelf, he said; I thought it sounded like a mouse gnawing.

Rats! rats! called the parrot, whose cage hung in the window by the side of the canary s.

You re mistaken, ma am, said Tom; the barn-cat doesn t give the rats a chance to come into the house, they live in the barn.

Rats! again cried the parrot.

Posy went up to the par