"
"As soon as it grows dark he will begin to be more lively, and perhaps
he will eat something, but not while we look at him--he is too shy
for that." "Nurse, how can they see to eat in the dark?"
"The good God, Lady Mary, has so formed their eyes that they can see
best by night. I will read you, Lady Mary, a few verses from Psalm
civ.:--
"'Verse 19. He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth
his going down.
"'20. Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beast
of the forest do creep forth. "'21. The young lions roar after their
prey, and seek their meat from God.
"'22. The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them
down in their dens.
"'23. Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour, until the evening.
"'24. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made
them all: the earth is full of thy riches.'
"Thus you see, my dear lady, that our heavenly Father taketh care of
all his creatures, and provideth for them both by day and by night."
"I remember, nurse, that my dormice used to lie quite still, nestled
among the moss and wool in their little dark chamber in the cage, all
day long; but when it was night they used to come out and frisk about,
and run along the wires, and play all sorts of tricks, chasing one
another round and round, and they were not afraid of me, but would
let me look at them while they ate a nut, or a hit of sugar; and the
dear little things would drink out of their little white saucer, and
wash their faces and tails--it was so pretty to see them!"
"Did you notice, Lady Mary, how the dormice held their food?"
"Yes; they sat up, and held it in their fore-paws, which looked just
like tiny hands.
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