Chapter 3

“Jazbury, I’ve found a fresh mouse-hole,” said Aunt Tabby one day. “It’s in the cupboard under the sink, and the cook has left the door open. Come with me and I’ll show it to you. I have great hopes the mouse may come out before so very long, and if you sit there and watch, you may catch him.”

“Aunt Tabby! Oh, I don’t want to watch mouse-holes today,” mewed Jazbury. “I told Fluffy I would come out and play with him. Mayn’t I, Mother? I said I would, and I don’t want to sit there in the cupboard and watch. Maybe the mouse wouldn’t come out anyway, and Fluffy expects me.”

“You always have some excuse, Jazbury,” said his aunt, severely. “If you had your way you would never do anything but play. But as long as you have to learn to mouse some time, I don’t see why today isn’t as good a time to begin as any.”

“Yes, Jazbury. Go with your aunt,” said his mother. “And don’t look sulky. I’m sure you ought to be very grateful to her for telling you about the hole.”

“But I don’t want to sit in the cupboard all morning. And I can find holes, too. I found one out in the shed yesterday. A big, big one. I’d rather watch that one if I have to watch any.”

“Very well,” said his aunt. “You may do as you please about it, but I think you’d be much more likely to catch a mouse in the cupboard.”

“I’d rather watch in the shed.”

His mother, too, said he might do as he chose about it, but neither she nor Aunt Tabby had much hopes he would catch anything.

“I’ll have to go out and tell Fluffy I can’t play this morning,” said Jazbury.

“Don’t be long,” said his mother. “Come straight back as soon as you have told him.”

Jazbury promised he would, and then he ran out into the kitchen and mewed for the cook to open the outside door for him.