_CHAPTER V._
_Emily._ Bless me, Henrietta, where did you get that prettysquirrel.
_Henrietta._ Ay, where now do you think I got that prettysquirrel? Why, Emily, if I was to tell you to guess a hundredtimes, you would never find it out. I found it in my capyesterday morning, as I was going to dress.
_Caroline._ Where?
_Emily._ No, surely!
_James_ and _John_. In your cap?
_Henrietta._ Yes, I did, I assure you. I was going to put it on,but I saw what was in it, and mamma was so kind as to buy me thatnice cage. You cannot think how prettily he goes round. You shallsee him presently.
_Fanny._ Oh dear, Henrietta, I have a sad tale to tell you. Youknow the pretty canary bird the baker gave me; well, what doyou think William did? he cut off half its tail, and part ofits wings.
_Henrietta._ Why, that was nothing to what my papa did. He isnot in the room, so I can safely tell you; he cut off half mysquirrel's tail with his scissars, as coolly as if he had beenpeeling an orange.
_All the party._ How cruel!
_Henrietta._ And all because he fell down, in endeavouring toget it.
_Emily._ And so he revenged himself on the Squirrel, that wasnot right.
_Fanny._ Right! indeed I think not; he deserved to have had hisgreat toe cut off, and then he might have been better able tojudge, by the pain he felt, how the squirrel liked the cuttingoff his tail. I think I never heard any thing so barbarous.
_James._ I say, Jack, let us have some fun with this lop-tailsquirrel: while they are talking, they will not see us.
_John._ Ay, so we will.
They then proceeded to action. The young ladies were so busy,they did not see these two mischievous boys, till they had set meon Eliza's head; who giving a violent scream, alarmed the wholecompany. Emily, in getting up in a hurry, overturned Fanny, whowas not sitting quite steadily in her chair; she gave her a blow,which Emily returned, and confusion was the word for near an hour;when peace was restored by the entrance of the alderman and hislady, who, after having in vain tried to learn the cause of thebustle, proposed a game at cards. James and Caroline desired toset out, so, while the rest of the company were at cards, theyamused themselves by tormenting me. At last tired by constantexercise, and irritated by James, who pricked me with histoothpick whenever I attempted to rest, I waited for a goodopportunity, and as he laid his finger close to my cage, (whilehe was talking to some of the card party) I gave him a bite hehas remembered ever since, I dare say. It so exasperated him,that he pricked me now more than ever; and Caroline joined him inpersecuting me. I had once or twice attempted to bite her, whichshe was aware of; but James dropping his toothpick into my cage,made me watch well, as I knew one of them would try to take itout. At last Caroline ventured, and just as she put her fingerin, somebody spoke to her, and she forgot to take it out, tillthe pain she felt from one of my bites made her withdraw it ratherhastily. The scream she gave so startled the alderman, that heoverset the card table upon his lady; the girls jumped up, theboys laughed, I went round and caused a violent ringing: so thatthey, who before were so desirous that I should do it, were nowmore desirous I should stand still. The alderman often attemptedto speak, but my ringing entirely drowned his voice; till atlength enraged, he came to my cage, and having pulled me out, andflung me into a corner of the room, where I staid very quietly,he began to pull off the bells, which hung over the cage; which,when he had done, he tossed them, one by one, to the company,telling them, if they were fond of the noise they might make itthemselves, and then the only difference would be, "it would bemade by monkeys instead of squirrels." The alderman then went outof the room, Henrietta put me into my cage, and peace was oncemore restored. And now all their proceedings were stopped, by thearrival of Mr. and Mrs. Churchill, who were come to take theiryoung folks home, and offer a place in the coach to the rest ofthe party. Away they went, to my great joy. Henrietta now bewailedthe loss of her bells in such violent terms, that the aldermantold her, if she did not cease, he would send the squirrel to MissLee. Upon which Mrs. Bumble started up in a rage, "It shall not bedone:" said she, "it was a scandalous thing of you to break thebells, but I shall take care to send for new ones." "Not while theservants are mine," said the alderman. His lady made no reply, butrang the bell, a servant appeared. "John," said she, "take thiswhere you bought it, and get new bells put on." "John," said thealderman, "if you do, you may as well take your wages in yourhand. But you will receive them when you come back, so it isthe same thing." John then went, and contrived to get it done bysomebody else, so that he might oblige both master and mistress.The alderman having found out it had been done, got up one morningvery early, packed me up in my cage, and sent me by the coach intoLincolnshire, to a Miss Huntley, one of his relations. Here Ilived a short, but happy life; I was constantly fed, very seldomexercised contrary to my inclinations, and, in short, lived sohappily, I thought it exceeded, if possible, the kind treatmentI met with at the good Mrs. Greville's.