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 turned and sat up on his hind legs, and stared at his contented brother, as much as to say: "Now, where on earth did you get that, when I thought that I was the one that had it? and where have I been all this time, anyway?"

His brother didn't pay any attention, so Mr. Mouse dropped again to his four feet, and, with his eyes on the cheese, began to creep, slowly and softly, across the cage. The other made no movement beyond the rapid working of jaws and the turning of the cheese in his paws so that he could nibble it nice and even, but he kept his eye on Mr. Mouse all the time.

When the first mouse had nearly reached his brother, Cheery clasped her hands together tightly, for she was perfectly sure, that any second he would make a sudden pounce and seize the cheese; but no, he kept on gently, until he was right in front of the eater, and then he raised up on his hind legs and began to nibble on the other side of the luncheon, holding his paws