The Book of Cats. 21 



*' But, my dear madam — " 



" I am quite sure there is, sir ; I feel it — I would 

 rather go." 



"John, Thomas, Joseph, can there be a Cat in 

 the room ? " demanded the embarrassed host of the 

 servants. 



" Quite impossible, sir ; — have not seen such 

 a hanimal about the place since I comed, any 

 way." 



" Well, look under the table, at any rate ; the lady 

 says she feels it ; look in every corner of the room, 

 and let us try to convince her." 



" My dear, my dear ! " remonstrated the annoyed 

 bridegroom from a distant part of the table ; " what 

 trouble you are giving." 



" Indeed, I w^ould rather leave the room," said 

 the little bride, slipping from her chair. But, mean- 

 while, the servants ostentatiously bustled in their 

 unwilling search for what they believed to be a 

 phantom fancy of the young lady's brain ; when, 

 lo ! one of the footmen took hold of a half-closed 

 window-shutter, and from the aperture behind out 

 sprang a large cat into the midst of the astonished 

 circle, eliciting cries and exclamations from others 

 than the finely organised bride, who clasped her 

 hands rigidly, and gasped with pallid lips. 



