“My Dear,” said Mrs. M. to Mr. M. one day as they were sitting on an elegant acorn sofa, just after breakfast, “My Dear, I think that we really must give a dinner party.” “A What, my love?” exclaimed Mr. M. in a surprised tone. “A Dinner Party”; returned Mrs. M. firmly, “you have no objections I suppose?” “Of course not, of course not,” said Mr. M. hastily, for there was an ominous gleam in his wife’s eye. “But--but why have it yet for a while, my love?” “Why indeed! A pretty question! After that odious Mrs. Frog’s great tea party the other evening! But that is just it, you never have any proper regard for your station in life, and on me involves all the duty of keeping up appearances, and after all _this_ is the gratitude I get for it!” And Mrs. M. covered her eyes and fell into hysterics of 50 flea power. Of course, Mr. M. had to promise to have it whenever she liked. “Then the day after tomorrow would not be too early, I suppose?” “My Dear,” remonstrated the unfortunate Mr. M., but Mrs. M. did not heed him and continued: “You could get the cheese and bread from Squeak, Nibble & Co. with great ease, and the firm of Brown House and Wood Rats, with whom you have business relations, you told me, could get the other necessaries.” “But in such a short time,” commenced Mr. M. but was sharply cut off by the lady; “Just like you, Mr. M.! Always raising objections! and when I am doing all I can to help you!” Symptoms of hysterics and Mr. M. entirely convinced, the lady continues: “Well, then we will have it the day after tomorrow. By the way, I hear that Mr. Chipmunck has got in a new supply of nuts, and you might as well go over after breakfast and get them, before they are bought by someone else.” “I have a business engagement with Sir Butterfly in an hour,” began Mr. M. but stopped, meekly got his hat and went off at a glance from Mrs. M.’s eye. When he was gone, the lady called down her eldest daughter, the charming Miss M. and commenced to arrange for the party. “We will use the birch bark plates,”--commenced Mrs. M. “And the chestnut ‘tea set,’” put in her daughter. “With the maple leaf vases, of course,” continued Mrs. M. “And the eel bone spoons and forks,” added Miss M. “And the dog tooth knives,” said the lady. “And the slate table cloth,” replied her daughter. “Where shall we have the ball anyhow,” said Mrs. M. “Why, Mr. Blind Mole has let his large subterranean apartments and that would be the best place,” said Miss M. “Sir Lizard’s place, ‘Shady Nook,’ which we bought the other day, is far better _I_ think,” said Mrs. M. “But _I_ don’t,” returned her daughter. “Miss M. be still,” said her mother sternly, and Miss M. _was_ still. So it was settled that the ball was to be held at ‘Shady Nook.’