The Book of Cats. 19 1 



" 'To be sure. Tear up that contract, though, to 

 begin with.' 



" The wizard, not without grumbhng, drew from 

 his pocket the fatal paper, which Tom no sooner 

 perceived than he pounced on it and swallowed it 

 whole, making at the same time the reflection that 

 he had never before tasted so delicious a morsel in 

 his life. 



"In the neighbourhood dwelt an old woman, who 

 was a witch — one of the ugliest old women you 

 ever saw, who every night flew up the chimney on 

 a broom-stick, and played Meg's diversions by the 

 light of the moon. This lady had an owl, who was 

 a bird of loose principles, and had been an asso- 

 ciate of Tom's in his gay days. This bright couple 

 consulted together how they should persuade the 

 ancient maiden to marry the old man. 



" ' She never will,' said the owl. 



*' ' Then we must make her ; but how V 



" ' We must catch her first, and take her prisoner, 

 and that is to be done easily enough, with a net, 

 spun by a man of sixty years old, who has never 

 set eyes on the face of woman.' 



" ' Where are we to find him }' 



" ' Just round the corner : he has been blind from 

 his birth.' 



