2i 4 THE FIRESIDE SPHINX 



Eponine, with her sea-green eyes, her narrow 

 face, her impertinent nose, her small and delicate 

 limbs, had an air of distinction which charmed 

 Gautier s appreciative friends. She was a polite 

 little cat, rather fond of company, and would re 

 ceive his guests with cordial pleasure, purring 

 as she stepped from one chair to another, as though 

 to say : &quot; Don t be impatient. Look at the pictures, 

 or talk to me, if I amuse you. My master is coming 

 down.&quot; On his appearance, she would retire dis 

 creetly to an armchair, or to a corner of the piano, 

 and listen to the conversation without interrupting 

 it, being French, and accustomed to good society. 



If Gautier dined alone, Eponine s place was laid 

 opposite to his ; and, when he came into the dining- 

 room, he found her always in her chair, waiting 

 serenely for his arrival. She would place her fore- 

 paws daintily on the edge of the table, and present 

 her smooth forehead to be kissed, &quot; like a well-bred 

 little girl who is affable and affectionate to relatives 

 and old people.&quot; Even the best trained children, 

 however, have their likes and dislikes in the matter, 

 of food, and Eponine sometimes found it a hard 

 task to eat everything that was placed before her. 

 Soup was her particular aversion, and once in a 

 while she tried to omit that course from her dinner. 

 Then Gautier would say to her courteously but 

 firmly : &quot; Mademoiselle, a young lady who is not 



