The Great Big Treasury of Beatrix Potter Part 9

"I think it wants another five minutes,"

said Ribby. "Just a shade longer; I will pour out the tea, while we wait.

Do you take sugar, my dear d.u.c.h.ess?"

"Oh yes, please! my dear Ribby; and may I have a lump upon my nose?"

"With pleasure, my dear d.u.c.h.ess."

d.u.c.h.ess sat up with the sugar on her nose and sniffed--

"How good that pie smells! I do love veal and ham--I mean to say mouse and bacon--"

She dropped the sugar in confusion, and had to go hunting under the tea- table, so did not see which oven Ribby opened in order to get out the pie.

Ribby set the pie upon the table; there was a very savoury smell.

d.u.c.h.ess came out from under the table-cloth munching sugar, and sat up on a chair.

"I will first cut the pie for you; I am going to have m.u.f.fin and marmalade," said Ribby.

"I think"--(thought d.u.c.h.ess to herself)--"I THINK it would be wiser if I helped myself to pie; though Ribby did not seem to notice anything when she was cutting it. What very small fine pieces it has cooked into! I did not remember that I had minced it up so fine; I suppose this is a quicker oven than my own."

The pie-dish was emptying rapidly!

d.u.c.h.ess had had four helps already, and was fumbling with the spoon.

"A little more bacon, my dear d.u.c.h.ess?" said Ribby.

"Thank you, my dear Ribby; I was only feeling for the patty-pan."

"The patty-pan? my dear d.u.c.h.ess?"

"The patty pan that held up the pie-crust," said d.u.c.h.ess, blushing under her black coat.

"Oh, I didn't put one in, my dear d.u.c.h.ess," said Ribby; "I don't think that it is necessary in pies made of mouse."

d.u.c.h.ess fumbled with the spoon-- "I can't find it!" she said anxiously.

"There isn't a patty-pan," said Ribby, looking perplexed.

"Yes, indeed, my dear Ribby; where can it have gone to?" said d.u.c.h.ess.

d.u.c.h.ess looked very much alarmed, and continued to scoop the inside of the pie-dish.

"I have only four patty-pans, and they are all in the cupboard."

d.u.c.h.ess set up a howl.

"I shall die! I shall die! I have swallowed a patty-pan! Oh, my dear Ribby, I do feel so ill!"

"It is impossible, my dear d.u.c.h.ess; there was not a patty-pan."

"Yes there WAS, my dear Ribby, I am sure I have swallowed it!"

"Let me prop you up with a pillow, my dear d.u.c.h.ess; where do you think you feel it?"

"Oh I do feel so ill ALL OVER me, my dear Ribby."

"Shall I run for the doctor?"

"Oh yes, yes! fetch Dr. Maggotty, my dear Ribby: he is a Pie himself, he will certainly understand."

Ribby settled d.u.c.h.ess in an armchair before the fire, and went out and hurried to the village to look for the doctor.

She found him at the smithy.

Ribby explained that her guest had swallowed a patty-pan.

Dr. Maggotty hopped so fast that Ribby had to run. It was most conspicuous. All the village could see that Ribby was fetching the doctor.

But while Ribby had been hunting for the doctor--a curious thing had happened to d.u.c.h.ess, who had been left by herself, sitting before the fire, sighing and groaning and feeling very unhappy.

"How COULD I have swallowed it!

such a large thing as a patty-pan!"

She sat down again, and stared mournfully at the grate. The fire crackled and danced, and something sizz-z-zled!

d.u.c.h.ess started! She opened the door of the TOP oven;--out came a rich steamy flavour of veal and ham, and there stood a fine brown pie,-- and through a hole in the top of the pie-crust there was a glimpse of a little tin patty-pan!

d.u.c.h.ess drew a long breath--

"Then I must have been eating MOUSE! . . . No wonder I feel ill. . . .

But perhaps I should feel worse if I had really swallowed a patty-pan!"

d.u.c.h.ess reflected--"What a very awkward thing to have to explain to Ribby! I think I will put MY pie in the back-yard and say nothing about it.

When I go home, I will run round and take it away." She put it outside the back-door, and sat down again by the fire, and shut her eyes; when Ribby arrived with the doctor, she seemed fast asleep.

"I am feeling very much better,"

said d.u.c.h.ess, waking up with a jump.

"I am truly glad to hear it! He has brought you a pill, my dear d.u.c.h.ess!"

"I think I should feel QUITE well if he only felt my pulse," said d.u.c.h.ess, backing away from the magpie, who sidled up with something in his beak.

"It is only a bread pill, you had much better take it; drink a little milk, my dear d.u.c.h.ess!"

"I am feeling very much better, my dear Ribby," said d.u.c.h.ess. "Do you not think that I had better go home before it gets dark?"