But there must be something to trim besides buns." "Let's all be quiet and think," said Phyllis; "no one's to speak until it's thought of something." So they were all quiet and so very still that a brown rat thought that there was no one in the loft and came out very boldly.

When Bobbie sneezed, the rat was quite shocked and hurried away, for he saw that a hay-loft where such things could happen was no place for a respectable middle-aged rat that liked a quiet life.
"Hooray!" cried Peter, suddenly, "I've got it." He jumped up and kicked at the loose hay.
"What ?" said the others, eagerly.
"Why, Perks is so nice to everybody.

There must be lots of people in the village who'd like to help to make him a birthday.

Let's go round and ask everybody." "Mother said we weren't to ask people for things," said Bobbie, doubtfully.
"For ourselves, she meant, silly, not for other people.

I'll ask the old gentleman too.