nhehadfinishedhissuer，andliftedthetraytotheotherendofthegreatoakdining-table，hegotouthisbooksagain，utfreshwoodonthefire，trimmedhislam，andsethimselfdowntoasellofrealhardwork.Hewentonwithoutausetillaboutelevenoclock，whenheknockedoffforabittofixhisfireandlam，andtomakehimselfacuoftea.Hehadalwaysbeenatea-drinker，andduringhiscollegelifehadsatlateatworkandhadtakentealate.Therestwasagreatluxurytohim，andheenjoyeditwithasenseofdelicious，volutuousease.Therenewedfireleaedandsarkled，andthrewquaintshadowsthroughthegreatoldroom;andashesiedhishotteaherevelledinthesenseofisolationfromhiskind.Thenitwasthathebegantonoticeforthefirsttimewhatanoisetheratsweremaking.
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Surely，
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hethought，
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theycannothavebeenatitallthetimeIwasreading.Hadtheybeen，Imusthavenoticedit!
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Presently，whenthenoiseincreased，hesatisfiedhimselfthatitwasreallynew.Itwasevidentthatatfirsttheratshadbeenfrightenedattheresenceofastranger，andthelightoffireandlam;butthatasthetimewentontheyhadgrownbolderandwerenowdisortingthemselvesaswastheirwont.
Howbusytheywere!Andharktothestrangenoises!Uanddownbehindtheoldwainscot，overtheceilingandunderthefloortheyraced，andgnawed，andscratched!MalcolmsonsmiledtohimselfasherecalledtomindthesayingofMrs.Demster，
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Bogiesisrats，andratsisbogies!
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Theteabegantohaveitseffectofintellectualandnervousstimulus，hesawwithjoyanotherlongsellofworktobedonebeforethenightwasast，andinthesenseofsecuritywhichitgavehim，heallowedhimselftheluxuryofagoodlookroundtherooHetookhislaminonehand，andwentallaround，wonderingthatsoquaintandbeautifulanoldhousehadbeensolongneglected.Thecarvingoftheoakontheanelsofthewainscotwasfine，andonandroundthedoorsandwindowsitwasbeautifulandofraremerit.Thereweresomeoldicturesonthewalls，buttheywerecoatedsothickwithdustanddirtthathecouldnotdistinguishanydetailofthem，thoughheheldhislamashighashecouldoverhishead.Hereandthereashewentroundhesawsomecrackorholeblockedforamomentbythefaceofaratwithitsbrighteyesglitteringinthelight，butinaninstantitwasgone，andasqueakandascamerfollowed.Thethingthatmoststruckhim，however，wastheroeofthegreatalarmbellontheroof，whichhungdowninacorneroftheroomontheright-handsideofthefirelace.Heulleduclosetothehearthagreathigh-backedcarvedoakchair，andsatdowntohislastcuoftea.Whenthiswasdonehemadeuthefire，andwentbacktohiswork，sittingatthecornerofthetable，havingthefiretohisleft.Foralittlewhiletheratsdisturbedhimsomewhatwiththeireretualscamering，buthegotaccustomedtothenoiseasonedoestothetickingofaclockortotheroarofmovingwater，andhebecamesoimmersedinhisworkthateverythingintheworld，excettheroblemwhichhewastryingtosolve，assedawayfromhi
Hesuddenlylookedu，hisroblemwasstillunsolved，andtherewasintheairthatsenseofthehourbeforethedawn，whichissodreadtodoubtfullife.Thenoiseoftheratshadceased.IndeeditseemedtohimthatitmusthaveceasedbutlatelyandthatitwasthesuddencessationwhichhaddisturbedhiThefirehadfallenlow，butstillitthrewoutadeeredglow.Ashelookedhestartedinsiteofhissangfroid.
Thereonthegreathigh-backedcarvedoakchairbytherightsideofthefirelacesatanenormousrat，steadilyglaringathimwithbalefuleyes.Hemadeamotiontoitasthoughtohuntitaway，butitdidnotstir.Thenhemadethemotionofthrowingsomething.Stillitdidnotstir，butshoweditsgreatwhiteteethangrily，anditscrueleyesshoneinthelamlightwithanaddedvindictiveness.
Malcolmsonfeltamazed，andseizingtheokerfromthehearthranatittokillit.Before，however，hecouldstrikeit，therat，withasqueakthatsoundedliketheconcentrationofhate，jumeduonthefloor，and，runningutheroeofthealarmbell，disaearedinthedarknessbeyondtherangeofthegreen-shadedlaInstantly，strangetosay，thenoisyscameringoftheratsinthewainscotbeganagain.
BythistimeMalcolmsonsmindwasquiteofftheroblem;andasashrillcock-crowoutsidetoldhimofthearoachofmorning，hewenttobedandtoslee.
HesletsosoundthathewasnotevenwakedbyMrs.DemstercomingintomakeuhisrooItwasonlywhenshehadtidieduthelaceandgothisbreakfastreadyandtaedonthescreenwhichclosedinhisbedthathewoke.Hewasalittletiredstillafterhisnightshardwork，butastrongcuofteasoonfreshenedhimuand，takinghisbook，hewentoutforhismorningwalk，bringingwithhimafewsandwicheslestheshouldnotcaretoreturntilldinnertime.Hefoundaquietwalkbetweenhighelmssomewayoutsidethetown，andherehesentthegreaterartofthedaystudyinghisLalace.OnhisreturnhelookedintoseeMrs.Withamandtothankherforherkindness.Whenshesawhimcomingthroughthediamond-anedbaywindowofhersanctumshecameouttomeethimandaskedhimin.Shelookedathimsearchinglyandshookherheadasshesaid:
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Youmustnotoverdoit，sir.Youarealerthismorningthanyoushouldbe.Toolatehoursandtoohardworkonthebrainisntgoodforanyman!Buttellme，sir，howdidyouassthenight?Well，Ihoe?Butmyheart!Sir，IwasgladwhenMrs.Demstertoldmethismorningthatyouwereallrightandsleeingsoundwhenshewentin.
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