The Book of Cats, 197 



the poor Cat, who was so kind and attentive to 

 him. At last, the time drew near when the Prince 

 was to return home, and he had not thought of 

 looking for a Httle dog ; but the Cat gave him a 

 casket, and told him to open this before the King, 

 and all would be well ; so the Prince journeyed 

 home, taking with him an ugly mongrel cur. When 

 the brothers saw this, they laughed secretly to each 

 other, and thought themselves quite secure, so far 

 as their younger brother was concerned. They 

 had, with infinite pains, procured each of them a 

 very rare and beautiful little dog, and each thought 

 himself quite sure to get the prize. When the day 

 came on which the dogs were to be shown, each of 

 the two elder Princes produced a beautiful little 

 dog, on a silk velvet cushion : no one could judge 

 which was the prettier. The youngest now opened 

 his casket, and found a walnut : he cracked this 

 walnut, and out of the walnut sprang a little tiny 

 dog, of exquisite beauty. Still the old King would 

 not give up his kingdom. He told the young 

 Princes they must bring him home a piece of 

 cambric so fine that it could be threaded through 

 the eye of a needle ; and so they went away in 

 search of such a piece of cambric. Again the 

 youngest Prince passed a year with the White Cat, 



