The Book of Cats. 155 



house, and took her seat between the master and 

 mistress while they were at tea ; from that time she 

 took up her abode with them, and every afternoon 

 a hamper in which she slept, was heard to creak in 

 a cellar below, and she would come up and par- 

 take of their afternoon meal. 



You have all heard of dog-stealers selling a dog 

 and afterwards stealing it from the purchaser, so 

 as to sell it again to some other person ; but I 

 have had a story told me, upon good authority, of 

 a certain dishonest owner of a very curiously 

 marked French Cat, who made quite a nice little 

 income by selling his feline property to the ladies 

 in his neighbourhood. 



You see Pussy had no notion of what an un- 

 principled ruffian he was, nor what was the nature 

 of the contract between him and her other owners. 

 She loved him very much, and fretted in her new 

 home, waited impatiently for an opportunity, and 

 at last, finding the door open, returned to her 

 robber master rejoicing. 



He, worthy creature, also rejoiced' at sight of 

 her, and hugged her to his manly breast. Then 

 he gave her some nice warm milk, and a large 

 slice of meat. Next day he sold her again, if he 

 crot a chance. 



