THE CAT TRIUMPHANT 145 



Who does not remember how Flavia buried with 

 equanimity two husbands and five children, but 

 never recovered from the loss of her parrot ? " I 

 know at this Time," he complains, " a celebrated 

 Toast, whom I allow to be one of the most agree- 

 able of her Sex, yet who, in the presence of her 

 Admirers, will give a Torrent of Kisses to her Cat, 

 any one of which a Christian would be glad of." 



His own caresses were of a more temperate char- 

 acter. The first thing he did, on reaching home, 

 was to stir his fire and stroke his cat ; and he con- 

 tented himself night after night with the silent 

 company of Pussy and her friend, a little dog 

 whom, from long association, she had learned first 

 to endure, then to appreciate, and then almost to 

 love. 



" They both of them sit by my Fire every Even- 

 ing, and await my return with Impatience ; and, at 

 my Entrance, never fail of running up to me, and 

 bidding me Welcome, each of them in its proper 

 Language. As they have been bred up together 

 from Infancy, and have seen no other Company, 

 they have acquired each other's Manners ; so that 

 the Dog often gives himself the Airs of a Cat, and 

 the Cat, in several of her Motions and Gestures, 

 affects the Behaviour of the little Doe:." 



On one occasion some audacious rogues pene- 

 trated into this quiet sanctuary, and endeavoured to 



