224 THE FIRESIDE SPHINX 



Summer came, and la Chinoise, born and bred 

 upon the melancholy waters, revelled for the first 

 time in the joyous garden life which all cats dearly 

 love ; — that life, partly of hermit-like meditation 

 and repose, partly of venery and cruel sport. The 

 odour of rose and jasmin ; the tall trees, on whose 

 branches unsuspicious birds nested and sang ; the 

 miniature rocks circling the fountain, amid which 

 she lay concealed like a Liliputian tiger in its lair ; 

 all these wonders enraptured her sensitive soul. 

 She became sleek and gay, her brilliant eyes lost 

 their shadow of fear, her timidity vanished, her 

 delicate limbs grew round and strong. Even her 

 unconquerable ugliness lent a distinction of its own 

 to her intelligence and grace. Moumoutte Blanche, 

 once the proud and intolerant queen of this lovely 

 place, now shared its delights generously with the 

 stranger, with the little Mongolian who had come 

 from the Yellow Sea to claim half of her master's 

 home, and two thirds of his affection. I know of 

 no nobler cat in Christendom than Moumoutte 

 Blanche. 



When summer waned, and the days grew short 

 and chill, la Chinoise abandoned the garden walks 

 for the greater luxury of the warm fireside. " It is 

 with the approach of winter," says M. Loti, "that 

 cats become in an especial manner our friends and 

 guests. They sit in our chimney-corners, watch 



