"I must serve my sentence," said he. "After that, if I'm not turned into a raspberry tart, I'll try to find my way home. The only thing is that I find it hard to write poetry when I've eaten so much. Poetry should be written on an empty stomach. I can't think of a rhyme for raspberry." "I don't believe there is one," said Hortense. "What difference does it make, anyhow?" "Ah," said Highboy, "you're not a poet and don't know what it is to want a rhyme." So Andy and Hortense sadly left him and by and by came to the other side of the raspberry patch and to the path of which the Owl had spoken. "I suppose we must try to reach home this way," said Hortense, "for we daren't go by the Little People again." "One way is about as bad as another," Andy agreed. "If we meet Jeremiah and Grater, we'll eat our cooky quick," Hortense said. "Then they won't be so formidable." "And then we'd never get through the tunnel," finished Andy. However, they kept on along the path which they had traveled before and after a while came to the little gate beyond which lay the Cat's house. There was no light except the gleam of the fire upon the windowpane. Andy and Hortense hesitated. "Let's look in," said Andy. "Perhaps no one's at home." "And then I might find my charm," Hortense added eagerly. They peeped through the window and saw nothing but a low fire on the hearth and the dim, kindly face of the big clock. "Let's risk it," said Hortense and lifting the latch, walked in. "Hello," said the Clock genially. "You here again? It's a dangerous place for little folks." "We shan't stay," said Hortense. "I want to get my charm if I can." But the charm was not in its place under the glass upon the mantel. "Oh dear," said Hortense. "Jeremiah took the charm away," said the Clock. "Perhaps he'll bring it back in time." "You have all the time there is," Hortense said. "We haven't and can't wait so long." Still, there was nothing to do, not then at least, and bidding the Clock good-by, she and Andy hurried away. The blue moon was setting, and soon, they knew, it would be day. They hastened their steps and had nearly reached the tunnel when Andy suddenly pulled Hortense into the bushes beside the path. Down the path came the sound of footsteps and past them hurried Jeremiah and Grater. "Let's hurry," said Andy, "before they come back." They ran down the tunnel as fast as they could and soon came to the large cave under the brook where the water dripped without ceasing. "Safe so far," said Andy, "but the last part is uphill and harder." They crossed the cave and ran on, looking back now and then as they paused to catch their breath. "We're lucky," said Andy when they had passed the little door safely and shut it behind them. They slipped through the wooden chute into the cellar and seated themselves on the stairs to eat their bites of cooky. "Oh," said Hortense suddenly, "what do you suppose will become of Tom and Jerry? I'd forgotten them completely."