I had banished my shoes after the mouse, but my slippers would do for a summer night.

So I rose softly, and gradually got on everything--down to one sock.

I couldn't seem to get on the track of that sock, any way I could fix it.

But I had to have it; so I went down on my hands and knees, with one slipper on and the other in my hand, and began to paw gently around and rake the floor, but with no success.

I enlarged my circle, and went on pawing and raking.