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could not tell。 I had likewise been eye…witness to no less than four cats； who might； for ought we knew to the contrary； at that hour of darkness； be prowling in search of some of our unhappy species。
But； in spite of every difficulty and hazard； we determined to venture rather than continue in opposition to our mother's commands； and； to reward our obedience； we escaped with trembling hearts； unobserved； at least unmolested； by any one。 And now； for the first time since our birth； we found ourselves exposed to the inclemency of the weather。 The night was very dark and tempestuous； the rain poured down in torrents； and the wind blew so exceedingly high； that； low upon the ground as we were； it was with difficulty that we could keep our legs： added to which； even step we took； we were in water up to our stomachs。 In this wretched condition we knew not which way to turn ourselves； or where to seek for shelter。 The spattering of the rain； the howling of the wind； together with the rattling and shaking of the trees； all contributed to make such a noise as rendered it impossible for us to hear whether any danger was approaching us or not。
In this truly melancholy situation we waded on for a considerable time； till at length we reached a small house； and very easily gained admittance through a pretty large hole on one side of the door。 Most heartily did we rejoice at finding ourselves once more under shelter from the cold and rain； and for some time only busied ourselves in drying our hair； which was as thoroughly wet as if we had been served as the boy threatened my brother Brighteyes； and we had really been drawn through a pond。 After we had done this； and had a little rested ourselves； we began to look about in search of food； but we could find nothing。 except a few crumbs of bread and cheese in a man's coat pocket； and a piece of tallow…candle stuck on the top of a tinder…box。 This； however； though not such delicate eating as we had been used to； yet served to satisfy our present hunger； and we had just finished the candle when we were greatly alarmed by the sight of a human hand （for we mice can see a little in the dark） feeling about the very chair on which we stood。 We jumped down in an instant； and hid ourselves in a little hole behind a black trunk that stood in one corner of the room。
We then heard very distinctly a man say； 'Betty； did you not put the candle by the bedside？' 'Yes； that I am very sure I did；' replied a female voice。 'I thought so；' answered the man； 'but I am sure it is not here now。 Tom！ Tom！ Tom！' continued he。 'What； father？' replied a boy； starting up； 'what is the matter？' 'Why； do you know anything of the candle？ I cannot find it； my dear； and I want it sadly； for I fancy it is time we should be up and be jogging。 Dost know any thing of it； my lad？' 'Not I； truly； father；' said the boy； 'I only know that I saw mother stick it in the box…lid last night； and put it upon the chair； which she set by the bedside； after you had put your clothes upon the back of it； I know I saw her put it there； so it must be there now； I fancy。' 'Well； I cannot find it；' replied the father； so we must e'en get up in the dark； for I am sure it must be time。' The father and son then both dressed themselves； and the man； taking a shilling out of his pocket； laid it upon the chair； saying at the same time； 'There； Betty。 I have left a shilling for you； take care it does not go after the candle； for where that is I cannot tell any more than the carp at the bottom of the squire's fish…pond。' He then unlocked the door； and went away； accompanied by his son。
After their departure； we again came out； and took another walk round the room； and found our way into a little cupboard； which we had not before observed。 Here we discovered half a loaf of bread； a piece of cold pudding； a lump of salt butter； some soft sugar in a basin； and a fine large slice of bacon。 On these dainties we feasted very amply； and agreed that we should again hide ourselves behind the black trunk all day； and at night； when the family were in bed； return to take another meal on the plenty of nice provision which we so happily discovered。 Accordingly； we crept back just as the woman went to fill her teakettle at a pump； which stood between her house and the next neighbour's。 When she returned； she put it upon the fire she had just lit； and； taking a pair of bellows in her hand； sat down to blow it。
While she was so employed； a young gentleman； about ten years of age； very genteelly dressed； entered the room； and in a familiar manner asked her how she did。 'I am very well； thank you； my dear；' replied she： 'and pray； Master George； how does your mamma and papa do； and all your brothers and sisters？' 'They are all very well； thank you；' returned the boy： 'And I am come to bring you a slice of cake； which my grandpapa gave me yesterday。' Then throwing his arms round her neck； he went on saying； 'Oh！ my dear； dear Betty Flood； how I do love you！ I would do anything in the world to serve you。 I shall save all my Christmas…boxes to give to you； and when I am a man； I will give you a great deal of money。 I wish you were a lady； and not so poor。' 'I am much obliged to you； my dear；' said she； 'for your kind good…wishes； but； indeed； love； I am very well contented with my station： I have a good husband； and three good children； and that is more than many a lady can say； and riches； Master George； unless people are good； and those one lives with are kind and obliging； will never make anybody happy。 What comfort； now； do you think a body could ever have at Squire Stately's？ I declare； if it was put to my choice； I would rather a thousand times be as I am。 To be sure； they are very rich； but what of that？ they cannot eat gold； neither can gold ease their hearts when they are bursting almost with pride and ill…nature。 They say； indeed； that Madam Stately would be kind enough； if they would let her rest； but what with the Squire's drinking and swearing； and the young gentleman's extravagance； and her daughter's pride and quarrelling； she is almost tired out of her life。 And so； Master George； I say I had rather be poor Betty Flood； with honest Abraham for my husband； than the finest lady in the land； if I must live at such a rate。 To be sure； nobody can deny but that money is very desirable； and people that are rich can do many agreeable things which we poor ones cannot； but yet； for all that； money does not make people happy。 Happiness； Master George； depends greatly upon people's own tempers and dispositions： a person who is fretful and cross will never be happy； though he should be made king of all England； and a person who is contented and good…humoured will never be wretched； though he should be as poor as a beggar。 So never fret yourself； love； because Betty Flood is poor； for though I am poor； I am honest； and whilst my husband and I are happy enough to be blessed with health； and the use of our limbs； we can work for our living； and though we have no great plenty； still we have sufficient to support us。 So pray； dear； eat your cake yourself； for I would not take it from you for ever so much。' They then disputed for some time who should have it： at last； George scuffled away from her； and put it into the closet； and then； nodding his head at her； ran away； saying； he must go to school that moment。
Betty Flood then ate her breakfast； and we heard her say something about the nasty mice； but what we could not make out； as she muttered softly to herself。 She then came to the trunk behind which we lay； and taking out of it a roll of new linen； sat down to needlework。 At twelve o'clock her husband and son returned； so moving her table out of the way； she made room for them at the fire； and； fetching the frying pan； dressed some rashers of the nice bacon we had before tasted in the cupboard。 The boy； in the mean time； spread a cloth on the table； and placed the bread and cold pudding on it likewise： then； returning to the closet for their plates； he cried out； 'Lauk！ father； here is a nice hunch of plum…cake； can you tell how it came？' 'Not I； indeed； Tom；' replied his father； 'I can tell no more than the carp at the bottom of the squire's fish…pond。' 'Oh； I will tell you。' said Mrs。 Flood； 'I know how it came。 Do you know； that dear child； Master George Kendall； brought it for me； he called as he went to school this morning。 I told him I would not have it； but the dear little soul popped it into the cupboard； and ran away without it。 Bless his little heart！ I do think he is the sweetest child that ever was born。 You may laugh at me for saying so； but I am sure I should have thought the same if I had not nursed him myself。' 'Indeed；' replied her husband； 'I do not laugh at you for saying so； for I think so too； and so must everyone who knows him； for when young gentlemen behave as he does； everybody must love and admire them。 There is nothing I would not do to help and serve that child； or any of his family； they always are so kind； and speak as civilly to us poor folk as if we were the first lords or ladies in the land。 I am sure； if it were needful； I would go through fire and water for their sakes； and so