The Book of Cats. 49 



wanted in its mouth, like a dog. During Madame 

 Helvetius's last illness, the poor animal never quitted 

 her chamber, and though it was removed after her 

 death, it returned again next morning, and slowly 

 and mournfully paced to and fro in the room, crying 

 piteously all the time. Some days after its mis- 

 tress's funeral, it was found stretched dead upon 

 her grave, having, it would seem, died of grief. 



There is a w^ell-authenticated story of a Cat 

 which having had a thorn taken out of her foot by a 

 man servant, remembered him, and welcomed him 

 with delight when she saw him again after an 

 absence of two years. 



As a strong instance of attachment, I can quote 

 the case of a she Cat of my own, which always 

 waited for me in the passage when I returned home 

 of an evening, and mounted upon my shoulder 

 to ride upstairs. Returning home once after an 

 absence of six weeks, this Cat sat on the corner of 

 the mantel-piece, close by the bed, all night, and as it 

 would appear wide awake, keeping a sort of guard 

 over me, for being very restless I lay awake a long 

 while, and then awoke again, several times, after 

 dozing off, to find upon each occasion Miss Puss, 

 with wide open eyes, purring loudly. I may add, 

 that although, when we have gone away from home, 

 E 



