x FOREWORD 



Chanoine, the sleepiest puss in Paradise ; and 

 Baudelaire's mysterious pet, with pale fire gleaming 

 'neath his half-shut lids ; and Moumoutte Blanche 

 and Moumoutte Chinoise, rivals for M. Loti's 

 fluctuating affections, and the superb dynasties, 

 both white and black, that ruled for years over 

 M. Gautier's heart and home. Here, too, is " great 

 Atossa," sung into fame by Mr. Arnold; and that 

 sedate and serious tabby who slept too long in 

 Cowper's bureau drawer. And — honoured of all 

 their race — here are two happy and distinguished 

 cats whom we cannot remember without envy, nor 

 name without respect, — Dr. Johnson's Hodge, 

 and Hinse of Hinsefeld, the wise companion of Sir 

 Walter Scott. 



Into this august assembly, into this sacred circle, 

 I fain in moments of temerity would introduce a 

 little shade who stole too soon from the warm sun, 

 and from the simple joys of life. She was dearly 

 loved and early lost, and the scanty honours years 

 of toil have brought me I lay at her soft feet for 

 entrance fee. May Hodge and Hinse champion 

 her cause with the Immortals for the sake of the 

 unfaltering love I have ever borne their masters, 

 and may her grace and beauty win for her what my 

 poor pen is powerless to attain ! Dear little ghost, 

 whose memory has never faded from my heart, 

 accept this book, dedicated to thee, and to all thy 



