FONDNESS FOR GATS. 295 



character, and thinking that he wanted a game, stooped down, patted 

 him, rolled him on his back, pretended to box his ears, put my hand 

 into his mouth, and, in short, let him have his game. The nurse- 

 maid stood by, almost paralysed with horror ; but why she should 

 be frightened seemed rather mysterious. 



On coming to breakfast I spoke in high terms of the splendid 

 dog with whom I had enjoyed a game, and the host was almost as 

 horrified as the nurse had been. Not until then did I hear about 

 the dog's temper ; but, whatever it was, it was never displayed 

 towards me, and I believe that I am the only person not belonging 

 to the family who was ever allowed to put a hand on him. 



While lie was at meals, a favourite cat generally sat 

 on my father's shoulders ; very often there was one upon 

 each. He was very fond of making them spring from 

 the ground upon his shoulder, walk along his out- 

 stretched arm, and take a piece of meat from between 

 his finger and thumb ; and I think that they took to 

 sitting upon his shoulder merely that they might be 

 nearer the scene of action, and so save time when the 

 meat was held out. One of these same cats, also, had a 

 special fondness for my father's own chair, which was 

 cushioned in a manner which she particularly admired ; 

 and if he happened to go out of his study and leave the 

 door open, he was nearly sure to find her there when he 

 returned. Nor did she at all hesitate, if he turned her 

 out and occupied the chair himself, to signify her desire 

 for a share of his seat, for she would leap up, and 

 deliberately push him with her paws until he moved. 

 This would go on until he left her sufficient space to 

 settle down comfortably. And there the two would 

 remain for hours. 



He would do almost anything for a cat. I have 



