Chapter IITheGuinea Pigs’ RestChapter 2 header
Chapter 2 header
Infront of the inn, leaning comfortably back in his chair, with his feet up against the door post, sat a fat, black and white guinea pig. When Nibbles went up to ask him if he could have some dinner, he saw that Mr. Guinea Pig was fast asleep, and snoring loudly.
“It is a pity to wake him,”thought Nibbles, “but I am awfully hungry; and besides, his mouth is so wide open that he might easily swallow a wasp.”
Nibbles coughed, and then he whistled, but the Guinea Pig never stirred. Finally, in desperation, Nibbles got a straw, and began to tickle his nose.
First Mr. Guinea Pig twitched his nose, then he opened one eye; at last he gave such a tremendous sneeze that he nearly fell out of his chair, and with a snort he woke up.
“Hullo!” said he angrily. “What doyouwant? This is the third timethis morning that I have been waked up, and I’m sleepy and want my nap.”
Nibbles and Guinea Pig at hearth
“Excuse me,” answered Nibbles timidly, “but I am very hungry, and should like to have some dinner.”
“Well, go into the house and get the Salamander,” growled Mr. Guinea Pig. And before Nibbles could ask another question, he was sound asleep again, and snoring away as hard as ever.
“I wonderwhatthe Salamander is?” thought Nibbles. “It sounds like a sandwich or a salad. The thing is to find it.”
As Mr. Guinea Pig completelyblocked the front doorway, Nibbles had to hunt about until he at last found another entrance. Then he wandered down a long hall with empty rooms on either side, but no Salamander could he find.
Finally he heard a squeaking and a squealing, which seemed to come from a room at the end of the hall. He knocked gently on the door, but, as no one answered, he ventured to peep in.
A bright fire was burning in the fireplace, in spite of its being a summer day, so the room felt very hot.
On a footstool in front of thefire, sat two tiny guinea pigs, who had evidently just been washed, and were now being dried. Their hair had been carefully curled, and each had a blue ribbon tied around its neck in a big bow.
Mrs. Guinea Pig held on her lap a third little pig, whose hair she was curling, while the littlest piggy of all was sitting in the bathtub.
Mrs. Guinea Pig washing babies
“I beg your pardon,” said Nibbles politely, “but can you please tell me where I can find the Salamander?”
Mrs. Guinea Pig, whose back was to the door, gave such a jump that she nearly dropped the little pig.
“Oh, come right in,” she said pleasantly, when she saw Nibbles. “I am delighted to see you, only please close the door, as I don’t like a draft.”
Nibbles thought a draft of fresh air was very much needed, but he said nothing, and closed the door.
“You will find the Salamander in the kitchen,” said Mrs. Guinea Pig. “He ought to be cookingthe dinner, but he probably is asleep, as the heat from the stove seems to go to his head.”
Guinea pig falls into washtub
Just then there was a sudden splash and a loud squeal. While Mrs. Guinea Pig had been talking to Nibbles, one of the little pigs had jumped off the footstool, and had come over to see what the littlest piggy was doing. He had climbed up on the edge of the tub, and then had slipped, and fallen into the water, right on top of the baby.
Mrs. Guinea Pig was very angry with the naughty little pig for being disobedient, and also for spoiling its best blue bow. While she was giving him a shaking, the piggy on her lap fell onto the floor, and then there was such a squeaking and a squealing that Nibbles ran out of the room, without even waiting to say good-bye.
Nibbles leaves