"Well girls, the hour is late and we must hippity-hoppity home."
In unison the two grumbled, "But auntie, the night is still young..."
"I'll hear no more about it. We have standards, if nothing else, and I will not risk our good reputation by remaining too long at any gathering. Now hop along!"
Zell lingered a moment more glancing at Burl as he and sister, Pearl, prepared to leave.
"If only he would take notice of me." she thought sorrowfully to herself.
On the other side of the ballroom...
"Burl, it is time to go home. Are you ready?"
Mesmerized Burl spoke longingly, "Oh Pearl, have you noticed how particularly lovely Victoria is tonight? Her fur is as silver as the moon."
"Burl! Snap out of it! Stop this nonsensical babbling and fetch the carriage, please!"
"Perhaps you are correct Pearl. Maybe I should set my sights on someone more attainable, like one of the Rabbit sisters."
The shocked expression on Pearl's furry face told him all he needed to know, without a sound being uttered.
************************************************
Meanwhile, back at the mansion...
A noise outside of the kitchen caught Hobbs' attention.
Peering out the window, moon shadows glimmered across the rose gardens as the bushes shuddered in the stillness of the night.
"That's odd," Hobbs thought to himself.
Looking closer at an odd movement on the far side of the gardens, Hobbs was startled when something reached out and tapped his back.
Unnerved, he toppled over.
But before he could regain his composure...
