they went into the dairy . the first thing they found was mittens , hiding in an empty jar . they tipped up the jar , and she scrambled out . " oh , mother , mother ! " said mittens-- " oh ! mother , mother , there has been an old man rat in the dairy -- a dreadful enormous big rat , mother ; and he 's stolen a pat of butter and the rolling - pin . " ribby and tabitha looked at one another . " a rolling - pin and butter ! oh , my poor son thomas ! " exclaimed tabitha , wringing her paws . " a rolling - pin ? " said ribby . " did we not hear a roly - poly noise in the attic when we were looking into that chest ? "
an empty jar .
where was mitthens hiding in ?
where was mitthens hiding in ?