Cover of Mouse and Mouser

The Mouse went to visit the Cat, and found her sitting behind the hall door, spinning.

MOUSE. What are you doing, my lady, my lady, What are you doing, my lady?

CAT (_sharply_). I'm spinning old breeches, good body, good body I'm spinning old breeches, good body.

MOUSE. Long may you wear them, my lady, my lady, Long may you wear them, my lady.

CAT (_gruffly_). I'll wear' em and tear 'em, good body, good body. I'll wear 'em and tear 'em, good body.

MOUSE. I was sweeping my room, my lady, my lady, I was sweeping my room, my lady.

CAT. The cleaner you'd be, good body, good body, The cleaner you'd be, good body.

MOUSE. I found a silver sixpence, my lady, my lady, I found a silver sixpence, my lady.

CAT. The richer you were, good body, good body, The richer you were, good body.

MOUSE. I went to the market, my lady, my lady, I went to the market, my lady.

CAT. The further you went, good body, good body The further you went, good body.

MOUSE. I bought me a pudding, my lady, my lady, I bought me a pudding, my lady.

CAT (_snarling_). The more meat you had, good body, good body, The more meat you had, good body.

MOUSE. I put it in the window to cool, my lady, I put it in the window to cool.

CAT. (_sharply_). The faster you'd eat it, good body, good body, The faster you'd eat it, good body.

MOUSE (_timidly_). The cat came and ate it, my lady, my lady, The cat came and ate it, my lady.

CAT (_pouncingly_). And I'll eat you, good body, good body, And I'll eat you, good body.

(_Springs upon the mouse and kills it._)

🧠 Check your understanding

  1. What is the Cat doing when the Mouse first visits her?

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    Answer: Spinning old breeches behind the hall door

    The Mouse finds the Cat sitting behind the hall door, spinning old breeches.

  2. What does the Mouse do with the pudding she bought at market?

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    Answer: Puts it in the window to cool

    The Mouse tells the Cat she put the pudding in the window to cool.

  3. What happens to the pudding while it is cooling?

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    Answer: The Cat comes and eats it

    The Mouse reports that the cat came and ate the pudding.

  4. How does the Cat's tone come across as she answers each piece of the Mouse's news?

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    Answer: Politely worded but with a sharp, menacing edge

    Each of the Cat's replies is phrased like a compliment but delivered sharply, snarlingly, or gruffly, hinting at menace beneath the surface.

  5. How does the story end?

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    Answer: The Cat pounces on the Mouse and kills it

    After hearing that the Cat ate the pudding, the Cat says 'And I'll eat you' and springs upon the Mouse, killing it.

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