eatures, which, I really do not know why, inspire puerile
repulsion, became astonishingly tame as soon as they found out that no
harm was intended them. They allowed themselves to be petted just like
cats, and would catch my finger in their ideally delicate little rosy
hands, and lick it in the friendliest way. They used to be let out at
the end of our meals, and would clamber up the arms, the shoulders, and
the heads of the guests, emerging from the sleeves of coats and
dressing-gowns with marvellous skill and agility. All these
performances, carried out very prettily, were intended to secure
permission to forage among the remains of the dessert. They were then
placed on the table, and in a twinkling the male and female had put away
the nuts, filberts, raisins, and lumps of sugar. It was most amusing to
watch their quick, eager ways, and their astonishment when they reached
the edge of the table. Then, however, we would hold out to them a strip
of wood reaching to their cage, and they stored away their gains in
their pantry.

The pair multiplied rapidly, and numerous families, as white as their
progenitors, ran up and down the little ladders in the cage, so that ere
long I found myself the owner of some thirty rats so very tame that when
the weather was cold they were in the habit of nestling in my pockets in
order to keep warm, and remained there perfectly still. Sometimes I used
to have the doors of my City of Rats thrown open, and, after having
ascended to the topmost story of my house, I whistled in a way very
familiar to my pets. Then the rats, which find it difficult to ascend
steps, climbed up the balusters, got on to the rail, and proceeding in
Indian file while keeping their equilibrium like acrobats, ascended that
narrow road not infrequently descended astride by schoolboys, and came
to me uttering little squeaks and manifesting the liveliest joy. And
now I must confess to a piece of stupidity on my part. I had so often
been told that a rat's tail looked like a red worm and spoiled the
creature's pretty looks, that I selected one of the younger generation
and cut off the much criticised caudal appendage with a red-hot shovel.
The little rat bore the operation very well, grew apace, and became an
imposing fellow with mustaches. But though he was the lighter for the
loss of his tail, he was much less agile than his comrades; he was very
careful about trying gymnastics and fell very often. He always brought
up t