but just at that moment somebody knocked at the front door , and moppet jumped into the flour barrel in a fright . mittens ran away to the dairy , and hid in an empty jar on the stone shelf where the milk pans stand . the visitor was a neighbor , mrs . ribby ; she had called to borrow some yeast . mrs . tabitha came downstairs mewing dreadfully--"come in , cousin ribby , come in , and sit ye down ! i 'm in sad trouble , cousin ribby , " said tabitha , shedding tears . " i 've lost my dear son thomas ; i 'm afraid the rats have got him . " she wiped her eyes with an apron .
mrs . ribby .
who knocked at the front door ?
who knocked at the front door ?