"It looks like something I've seen before," said Hortense, "but I can't remember what." Then suddenly she did remember. "It's the Cat's house!" said she. "And it has my charm!" "Just so," said the Clock. "If I were you, I'd go away at once." It seemed excellent advice, and Andy and Hortense turned to obey, but as they did so, in walked Jeremiah, a Jeremiah that seemed as big as a lion. "Well, well," said Jeremiah in a purring voice, "if this isn't Andy and Hortense. I didn't think I'd find you here. How small you've grown!" "I didn't look to find you here," said Hortense severely, "You should be at home where you belong." But Jeremiah only smiled at this and yawned, showing his great sharp teeth. Then he stretched and sharpened his claws on the floor. His claws tore up great splinters with a noise like that of a sawmill, and Andy and Hortense were very much frightened. "Let us past," Hortense said in a brave voice which trembled a little. Jeremiah only blinked his great green eyes and smiled a little, very unpleasantly. Hortense and Andy looked at the windows, but these were fastened tight, and Jeremiah, besides, was looking at them from his lazy green eyes. "Don't go just yet," Jeremiah purred in a voice that shook the house. "It wouldn't be polite to hurry away. Besides, my friend Grater would be disappointed." Andy and Hortense, being now but ten or twelve inches tall, had even less wish to see Grater than formerly. Hortense was aware of a sinking feeling in her stomach. The door flew open and in walked Grater, and very large and rough he looked. Where Malay Kris had run him through, he wore a large patch of pink court-plaster. His eyes fell upon Andy and Hortense and a wide and wicked smile appeared upon his unhandsome countenance. "Well, well," said Grater in his rough voice, "if here aren't our little friends. We must urge them to stay with us. Jeremiah, put these nice plump children in the cooky jar for future use." [Illustration: "Jeremiah, put these nice plump children in the cooky jar," said Grater in his rough voice.] With two steps Grater was across the room, and he removed the cover of the jar. "In with them, Jeremiah," said Grater, and Jeremiah, rising lazily, took first Andy and then Hortense by the collar and dropped them into the jar. The top came down with a clatter, and Hortense and Andy were in the dark. The jar was empty and the sides were smooth as glass. "Stand on my back," said Andy, "and see if you can reach the cover." Though Hortense could just reach it, it was far too heavy for her to move. "It wouldn't be of any use," said Hortense. "They'd catch us again even if we did get out." So they sat quiet for a long time. Hortense felt like crying, but managed not to. After a time she became hungry and put her hand in her pocket. There was a large piece of cooky which she had put there when she began to grow small and had completely forgotten.