safer to conceal myself in a little hole in the wainscot of the
closet, where, finding myself very safe, I did not awake till
midnight. After the family were all retired to rest, I peeped out
of the hole, and there saw just such another frightful trap as
that which was the prelude to poor Softdown's sufferings.
Startled at the sight, I retreated back as expeditiously as
possible, nor ever stopped till I found my way into a bed-chamber,
where lay two little girls fast asleep.

I looked about for some time, peeping into every hole and corner
before I could find any thing to eat, there being not so much as a
candle in the room with them. At last I crept into a little
leathern trunk, which stood on a table, not shut down quite close:
here I instantly smelt something good: but was obliged to gnaw
through a great deal of linen to get at it; it was wrapped up in a
lap-bag, amongst a vast quantity of work. However, I made my way
through half a hundred folds, and at last was amply repaid, by
finding out a nice piece of plum-cake, and the pips of an apple,
which I could easily get at, one half of it having been eat away.
Whilst I was thus engaged I heard a cat mew, and not knowing how
near she might be, I endeavoured to jump out; but in the hurry I
somehow or other entangled myself in the muslin, and pulled that,
trunk and all, down with me; for the trunk stood half off the
table, so that the least touch in the world overset it, otherwise
my weight could never have tumbled it down.

The noise of the fall, however, waked the children, and I heard
one say to the other,--'Bless me! Mary, what is that noise?--What
can it be? I am almost frightened out of my wits; do, pray,
sister, hug me close!' 'Pooh!' replied the other, 'never mind it!