256 THE FIRESIDE SPHINX 



her presence should betray them to their death. She 

 sometimes seeks, in this her utmost need, help from 

 those whom her instinct bids her trust, as the poor 

 cat at Madras fled to her former master for pro- 

 tection. M. Pierquin de Gembloux tells us of a 

 cat that belonged to M. Moreau de Saint Mery, 

 and that had never been permitted to rear a single 

 kitten. When she gave birth to her third litter, 

 the servant, wishing to be as kind as cruelty would 

 permit, stole from her only one little victim each 

 day, in order that she might grow accustomed 

 " tout doucement " to her loss. For five mornings 

 this relentless robbery was continued, until but a 

 single kitten remained in the basket. Then, des- 

 perate and determined, the cat carried this survivor 

 into her master's study, leaped to his lap, and laid 

 it gently upon his knee, looking in his face with a 

 mute prayer that could neither be misunderstood 

 nor rejected. M. de Saint Mery gave orders that 

 the kitten should be spared ; but its mother, too 

 fearful to trust her good fortune, brought it back 

 every morning for weeks, laid it regularly on his 

 knee or at his feet, and besought anew his merciful 

 interference. 



Even in happier homes, maternity brings to the 

 cat a host of tender cares. She is never without 

 solicitude, and shows in a hundred pretty ways her 

 anxiety for the safety and welfare of her children. 



