e danger he
run of being killed by cats, or mousehunts, or caught in traps; but
Silket, like a naughty mouse as he was, only laughed and made light of
her fears; and when at last she appeared vexed at his disobedience, he
promised never to go into the garden again; but, like many more, he
broke his promise directly he was out of her sight; and beside this,
he was sadly idle, and was I am sorry to say, much fonder of play than
work, and Downy was obliged to remonstrate with him on such bad
behaviour, and said, 'Silket, how can you expect me to work for both
you and myself? you are a sad partner. Silket was very humble, and
promised to be more industrious for the future, and that very
afternoon he ransacked a new crop of peas, which the gardener had sown
that day, and came home laden with the spoils; next day he brought
home hoard of nuts from the garden, and Downy thought if he would but
continue so good, she should be very happy, for her Silket was a very
pretty creature, and she was very fond of him. But pretty creatures
are not always the best, as she soon found to her cost, for when the
weather set in cold, then Mr. Silket refused to work, or even to stir
out of the house, but lay rolled round like a ball in the soft hay,
and slept, only just getting up to eat; and Downy was much grieved,
for she feared their stock of food would never last out the winter,
if he did not help her make some addition to it, but Silket begged her
not to be under any concern, for there was plenty for them both; and
on her again expressing her fears on the subject, he gave her two or
three severe bites on her ear, and squeaked most vehemently, shewing
his anger at being found fault with, and then laid down again with a
sulky air of displeasure; while poor Downy almost broken-hearted,
slowly and full of sorrow, left her house, and strolled along the side
of the bank quite disconsolate, and she resolved never to go back
again to her ungrateful husband, who had treated her so unkindly, but
leave him in quiet possession of her dwelling.

"Simple little Downy! she might have known beforehand how he would
have treated her, as she was so well acquainted with his propensity to
stealing, and she was a very foolish mouse to take for a partner one
who shewed, from the first, that he liked better to play about and
steal, than to labour and get an honest living. Downy ought to have
considered all this, but she thought him so pretty, that she forgot
all