CHAPTER XXXVI 



THE EXPERIMENT WITH THE CAT 



THE wind blew cold and dry. The storm of the 

 day before had brought it on. Uncle Paul took 

 this pretext to have the kitchen stove lighted in spite 

 of Mother Ambroisine 's remarks, who cried out at 

 the unseasonableness of making a fire. 



"Light up the stove in summer!'' said she; "did 

 one ever see the like I No one but our master would 

 have such a notion. We shall be roasted." 



Uncle Paul let her talk; he had his own idea. 

 They sat down at the table. After eating its supper 

 the big cat, never too warm, settled itself on a chair 

 by the side of the stove, and soon, with its back turned 

 to the warm sheet-iron, began to purr with happi- 

 ness. All was going as desired; Uncle Paul's pro- 

 jects were taking an excellent turn. There was some 

 complaint of the heat, but he took no notice. 



"Ah! do you think it is for you the stove is 

 lighted 1 ' ' said he to the children. ' ' Undeceive your- 

 selves, my little friends: it is for the cat, the cat 

 alone. It is so chilly, poor thing; see how happy 

 it is on its chair. ' ' 



Emile was on the point of laughing at his uncle's 

 kindly attentions to the tom-cat, but Claire, who sus- 

 pected serious designs, nudged him with her elbow. 

 Claire's suspicions were well founded. When they 



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