The Mason-bees 



by one; with their pink noses they recognize 

 the furniture: they find their own seats, their 

 own tables, their own arm-chairs; but the sur- 

 roundings are dijEferent. They give little sur- 

 prised miaows and questioning glances. A 

 few caresses and a saucer of milk allay all 

 their apprehensions; and, by the next day, the 

 mother Cats are acclimatized. 



It is a different matter with the Tom. We 

 house him in the attics, where he will find 

 ample room for his capers; we keep him com- 

 pany, to relieve the weariness of captivity; 

 we take him a double portion of plates to lick; 

 from time to time, we place him in touch with 

 some of his family, to show him that he is not 

 alone in the house ; we pay him a host of at- 

 tentions, in the hope of making him forget 

 Orange. He appears, in fact, to forget it: 

 he is gentle under the hand that pets him, he 

 comes when called, purrs, arches his back. It 

 is well: a week of seclusion and kindly treat- 

 ment have banished all notions of returning. 

 Let us give him his liberty. He goes down 

 to the kitchen, stands by the table like the 

 others, goes out into the garden, under the 

 watchful eye of Aglae, who does not lose sight 

 of him; he prowls all around with the most 

 ii8 



