THE CAT OF ANTIQUITY 3 



shadow of mighty temples, or sat blinking and 

 washing her face with contemptuous disregard alike 

 of priest and people. There is no mention of her 

 in Holy Writ ; but when Moses led the Children 

 of Israel into the desert, she watched him go, 



" With sombre sea-green gaze inscrutable." 



Deserts, indeed, offered scant allurement to her. 

 No wandering people have ever enjoyed her sweet 

 companionship. The Arabs loved and valued her ; 

 but could do no more than carry her across the 

 trackless sands for the enrichment of softer homes 

 than their black tents could offer. 



" And the bubbling camels beside the load 

 Sprawled for a furlong adown the road ; 

 And the Persian pussy-cats, brought for sale, 

 Spat at the dogs from the camel-bale." 



Poor faithful dogs, lovers of novelty and change 

 of scene, who dwell contentedly in tents, or huts, 

 or 'neath the open sky, and roam far and wide with 

 the masters whom they serve. The cat cares little 

 to see the world, and dislikes the discomforts of 

 travel. Some gracious instinct binds her to her 

 home. She feels the charm of the familiar, and her 

 fidelity to the sheltering hearth has made her — 

 now that her old honours have passed away — the 

 little god of domesticity, the friend of those who 

 are too happy or too wise for restlessness. 



