SOME CATS OF FRANCE 225 



with us the dancing flames, and dream with us 

 vague dreams, misty and melancholy as the deepen- 

 ing dusk. It is then, too, that they wear their rich- 

 est fur, and assume an air of sumptuous and delight- 

 ful opulence. With the first frost, Moumoutte 

 Chinoise patched up her meagre coat, which no 

 longer showed its old distressing rents ; and Mou- 

 moutte Blanche adorned herself with an imposing 

 cravat, a snow-white boa, which encircled her pretty 

 face like a vast Medicean ruff. Their affection for 

 each other was increased by their mutual love of 

 warmth and repose. On the hearth, on their cush- 

 ions, in the armchairs they slept for whole days, 

 snugly rolled into one great round ball of white and 

 yellow fur. 



" It was Moumoutte Chinoise who, in an especial 

 manner, courted this comfortable companionship. 

 When, after a short and chilly stroll in the garden, 

 she found her friend sleeping before the fire, she 

 would steal up to her very, very softly, and with as 

 much caution as if she were surprising a mouse. 

 Blanche, always nervous, pettish, and averse to 

 being disturbed, would sometimes resent intrusion, 

 and give her a gentle slap by way of remonstrance. 

 It was never returned. La Chinoise would merely 

 lift her little paw with a mocking gesture, looking 

 at me meanwhile out of the corners of her eyes, as 

 though to say, ' She has a difficult temper, has n't 



