Perhaps there is a soul hidden in everything and it can always speak,without even making a sound,to another soul.But whatsoever was the reason,the rat knew from that moment that he was safe--even though he was a rat.He knew that this young human being sitting on the red footstool would not jump up and terrify him with wild,sharp noises or throw heavy objects at him which,if they did not fall and crush him,would send him limping in his scurry back to his hole.
He was really a very nice rat,and did not mean the least harm.
When he had stood on his hind legs and sniffed the air,with his bright eyes fixed on Sara,he had hoped that she would understand this,and would not begin by hating him as an enemy.When the mysterious thing which speaks without saying any words told him that she would not,he went softly toward the crumbs and began to eat them.
As he did it he glanced every now and then at Sara,just as the sparrows had done,and his expression was so very apologetic that it touched her heart.
She sat and watched him without making any movement.One crumb was very much larger than the others--in fact,it could scarcely be called a crumb.It was evident that he wanted that piece very much,but it lay quite near the footstool and he was still rather timid.
"I believe he wants it to carry to his family in the wall,"
Sara thought."If I do not stir at all,perhaps he will come and get it."
She scarcely allowed herself to breathe,she was so deeply interested.
The rat shuffled a little nearer and ate a few more crumbs,then he stopped and sniffed delicately,giving a side glance at the occupant of the footstool;then he darted at the piece of bun with something very like the sudden boldness of the sparrow,and the instant he had possession of it fled back to the wall,slipped down a crack in the skirting board,and was gone.
"I knew he wanted it for his children,"said Sara."I do believe I could make friends with him."
A week or so afterward,on one of the rare nights when Ermengarde found it safe to steal up to the attic,when she tapped on the door with the tips of her fingers Sara did not come to her for two or three minutes.
There was,indeed,such a silence in the room at first that Ermengarde wondered if she could have fallen asleep.Then,to her surprise,she heard her utter a little,low laugh and speak coaxingly to someone.
"There!"Ermengarde heard her say."Take it and go home,Melchisedec!
Go home to your wife!"
Almost immediately Sara opened the door,and when she did so she found Ermengarde standing with alarmed eyes upon the threshold.
"Who--who ARE you talking to,Sara?"she gasped out.
Sara drew her in cautiously,but she looked as if something pleased and amused her.
"You must promise not to be frightened--not to scream the least bit,or I can't tell you,"she answered.
Ermengarde felt almost inclined to scream on the spot,but managed to control herself.She looked all round the attic and saw no one.
And yet Sara had certainly been speaking TO someone.She thought of ghosts.
"Is it--something that will frighten me?"she asked timorously.
"Some people are afraid of them,"said Sara."I was at first--but I am not now."
"Was it--a ghost?"quaked Ermengarde.
"No,"said Sara,laughing."It was my rat."
Ermengarde made one bound,and landed in the middle of the little dingy bed.She tucked her feet under her nightgown and the red shawl.
She did not scream,but she gasped with fright.
"Oh!Oh!"she cried under her breath."A rat!A rat!"
"I was afraid you would be frightened,"said Sara."But you needn't be.I am making him tame.He actually knows me and comes out when I call him.Are you too frightened to want to see him?"
