What in the world need you be frightened at? What do you suppose
will hurt you? It sounded as if something fell down; but as it
has not fallen upon us, and I do not hear anybody stirring, or
speaking as if they were hurt, what need we care about it? So
pray, Nancy, let us go to sleep again; for as yet I have not had
half sufficient, I am sure; I hope morning is not coming yet, for
I am not at all ready to get up.' 'I am sure,' answered the
other, 'I wish it was morning, and daylight now, for I should like
to get up vastly, I do not like to lay here in the dark any
longer; I have a great mind to ring the bell, and then mamma or
somebody will come to us with a candle.' 'And what in the world,'
rejoined Mary, 'will be the use of that? Do you want a candle to
light you to look for the wounds the noise has given you; or what
can you wish to disturb my mamma for? Come, let me cuddle you,
and do go to sleep, child, for I cannot think what occasion there
is for us to keep awake because we heard a noise; I never knew
that noise had teeth or claws to hurt one with; and I am sure this
has not hurt me; and so, whether you choose to lie awake or not, I
will go to sleep, and so good-bye to you, and pray do not disturb
me any more, for I cannot talk any longer.' 'But, Mary,' again
replied the other, 'pray do not go to sleep yet, I want to speak
to you.' 'Well, what do you want to say?' inquired Mary. 'Why,
pray have you not very often,' said Nancy, 'heard of thieves
breaking into people's houses and robbing them; and I am sadly
afraid that noise was some rogues coming in; so pray, Mary, do not
go to sleep, I am in such a fright and tremble you cannot think.
Speak, Mary, have not you, I say, heard of thieves?' 'Yes,'
replied Mary, in a very sleepy voice, 'a great many times.'
'Well, then, pray sister, do not go to sleep,' said Nancy, in a
peevish accent, 'suppose, I say that noise I heard should be