The two children took turns to steal away and play with the "Baby," as
they called Marianne, though she was a great deal bigger than Clover.
But when night came on, and nurse swooped on Katy and Clover, and
carried them off to bed, Miss O'Riley began to think that the garret was
a dreadful place. Peeping out of her box, she could see black things
standing in corners, which she did not recollect seeing in the day-time.
They were really trunks and brooms and warming-pans, but somehow, in the
darkness, they looked different--big and awful. Poor little Marianne
bore it as long as she could; but when at last a rat began to scratch in
the wall close beside her, her courage gave way entirely, and she
screamed at the top of her voice.

"What is that?" said Dr. Carr, who had just come in, and was on his way
up stairs.

"It sounds as if it came from the attic," said Mrs. Carr (for this was
before Mamma died). "Can it be that one of the children has got out of
bed and wandered up stairs in her sleep?"

No, Katy and Clover were safe in the nursery; so Dr. Carr took a
candle and went as fast as he could to the attic, where the yells were
growing terrific. When he reached the top of the stairs, the cries
ceased. He looked about. Nothing was to be seen at first, then a
little head appeared over the edge of a big wooden box, and a piteous
voice sobbed out:

"Ah, Miss Katy, and indeed I can't be stayin' any longer. There's
rats in it!"

"Who on earth _are_ you?" asked the amazed Doctor.