When Seabold carried all three to shore, in his knitted cap, Pandora was there, waiting with a blanket and—blessedly—a bowl of water. The children drank and drank. The girl-mouse made a cup of her hand for the baby.

When they had finished drinking, the boy-mouse said, quite clearly and solemnly, “Thank you.”

Seabold and Pandora smiled. For both were, deep down inside themselves, quite delighted. Children!

They took the little ones into the cottage and gave them supper.

The next morning the boy-mouse and girl-mouse joined Pandora and Seabold at breakfast. The evening before they had introduced themselves as Whistler and Lila, brother and sister. The baby they had introduced as Tiny.

“Yes indeed, she is,” Pandora had replied.

“No, no,” Lila had said. “Tiny is her proper name.”

“Well,” Pandora had replied with a smile. “Perfect.”

And now, in early morning, sitting before a warm breakfast in a warm kitchen, Whistler and Lila, still tired, still hungry, were, more than anything, worried.

“Tiny is still sleeping,” Lila told Pandora and Seabold. “She never sleeps so long.”

“And she hardly stirred all night,” said Whistler. “She always stirs about and gurgles and bubbles. But she is so quiet.”

Pandora rose immediately to see.

She lifted the sleeping baby from the knitted sock on the chair.

“This small one has a fever,” Pandora said in deep concern. “I believe she is quite ill.”

Lila gazed at Pandora, and one large tear began to roll down the small mouse’s face.

Whistler looked at Seabold in distress.

“Seabold,” said Pandora, “you will need to look after this baby while I go out into the woods. I must find a special branch of willow, and it may take me some time.”

Seabold nodded and reached out. Pandora gently laid the infant in his big paw.

“Keep her cool,” said Pandora. “But not cold. A nice, low breeze from the window will help. And she needs much water. See if she will drink.”

Pandora looked kindly at Whistler and Lila. “You have done very well, caring for this small child. She is ill from weather and sea, not from want of attention or love.”

Another tear dropped down Lila’s face.

“I shall hurry,” Pandora said as, taking her woolen shawl, she stepped out the door.