Alexander? Twenty-four peppercorns exactly, thank you.’

‘By the bye, what is the smallest size you stock in fancy slippers, Miss Louisa?’ ‘Kitten quarter two’s, Mr. Sandy,’ said Miss Louisa, reaching up towards the top shelf. ‘I’m afraid that would be too large; no, don’t trouble please to get them down; I know they would be too large, Miss Louisa.’

At this point Miss Matilda again mewed dismally, ‘Miaw! mi-a-aw! Oh, my poor face.’ ‘I am out of patience with that wearisome fishbone. Sister, why will you not allow our obliging customer to examine it?’ ‘What do you want me to do?’ asked Matilda crossly. ‘Put on these wash-leather gloves so that you cannot scratch; sit back in this chair – so – now open your mouth.’ Matilda opened it wide with the intention of spitting at them. Instantly Miss Louisa wedged a spoon between her jaws. ‘Quick, Mr. Sandy! Get the sugar tongs off the tea tray in the parlour. That’s it! Quick, before she scratches us! She is kicking her slippers off to scratch!’ After a brief struggle Sandy held up the fishbone in the sugar tongs, while Matilda Pussycat made loud howls. ‘Indeed, Mr. Sandy, the firm is under a great obligation to you; she had not trimmed one hat during the last fortnight; besides disturbing my rest. Pray do us the favour to accept this short length of blue ribbon, which I will enclose in your parcel as a present from us both.’ ‘Speak for yourself, Sister, I hate dogs!’ said Matilda Pussycat, spitting and sputtering. ‘Good morning, Mr. Alexander.’ ‘Good morning, Misses Pussycats.’ And so Sandy was bowed out at the front door with his parcel. It was quite three days before the swelling disappeared; and when the Misses Pussycats had friends to tea next Saturday, the sugar tongs were discovered to be somewhat bent.

Sandy’s purchases were much approved by the rest of the circus company; especially the hatpin.

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Chapter 6

Little Mouse

Xarifa the dormouse sat upon a hazel twig that lay upon the moss; she stitched busily. She was making the gold and scarlet pocket handkerchief into a robe for Tuppenny. Tuppenny sat opposite to the dormouse, holding two sides of the handkerchief while she sewed them together. ‘It is a long seam, Xarifa.’ ‘Shall I tell you a story to pass the time?’ ‘That would be lovely, Xarifa.’ ‘Let me see, what shall it be? I will tell you about Little Mouse.’ ‘Who was Little Mouse, Xarifa?’ ‘I don’t know, Tuppenny; she was just a little mouse, and she was asked to a wedding. And she said “What shall I wear? What shall I wear? There is a hole in my old gray gown, and the shops are shut on a Wednesday.” (You see, Tuppenny, it was the day before the wedding and the shops were not open.) So she said – “What shall I wear? What shall I wear?” And while Little Mouse was wondering there came to the door of her little house an old buff green-striped caterpillar man, with a band across his shoulder and a pack upon his back. And he sang, “Any tape, any buttons, any needles, any pins? Any hooks, any eyes, any silver safety-pins? Any ribbons, any braid, any thread of any shade, any fine spotty muslin today, M’mm?” He turned the band over his head and stood the pack open on the doorstep, and showed Little Mouse his wares. And she bought fine spotty muslin from the caterpillar man. Little Mouse spread the muslin on her table, and she cut out a mob-cap and tippet. Then she said “I have scissors and thimble and needles and pins; but no thread. How shall I sew it? How shall I sew it?”

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‘There came to the door of her little house an old buff-green striped caterpillar man.’

‘Then by good luck there came to the door of her house a hairy brown spider with eight little eyes. He, too, had a pack, a tin box on his back; and his name was Webb Spinner. He sang “Spinneret, spinneret! the best you can get! Reels and bobbins, bobbins and reels! White thread and black, the best in my pack! Come buy from Webb Spinner!” So Little Mouse bought white thread, and she sewed her cap and tippet. (Hold it straight please, Tuppenny.)

‘And while Little Mouse was sewing, a large moth came to the door, selling – “Silk, spun silk! Silk spun fine! Woven by the silk moth, who’ll buy silk of mine?” Her silk was apple-green, shot with thread of gold and silver; and she had gold cord, and silken tassels, too. Little Mouse bought silk enough to make herself a gown, and she trimmed it with gold cord and tassels.

‘And when she was dressed, attired all in her best, she said – “How can I dance? how can I dance with the Fair Maids of France, with my little bare feet?”

‘Then the wind blew the grass and whispered in the leaves; and the fairies brought Little Mouse a pair of lady’s slippers. And Little Mouse danced at the wedding.’

‘That is lovely, Xarifa,’ said Tuppenny, ‘I would have liked to see the dancing. Who were the Fair Maids of France, Xarifa?’ ‘Little prim white flowers with white double ruffs and green stockings.’ ‘And the lady’s slippers, were they flowers, too?’ ‘Yes, Tuppenny; and so are the Lambs’ toes, and Lady’s smocks, and Fox gloves.’ ‘Do foxes wear gloves, Xarifa?’ ‘Perhaps.