278 THE FIRESIDE SPHINX 



paramount passion in her bosom, any more than in 

 the bosoms of men. Yet just as there are traces 

 of it in the human heart, and occasional instances 

 so fine that our admiration proves their rarity ; so 

 there are traces of it in all cathood, and now and 

 then some charming and indubitable proof of its 

 potency. Pussy does not, indeed, assume herself 

 our servitor, because, to gratify our own refined 

 tastes, we give her food and lodging. That is not 

 her way of reading her motto, Libertas sine Lahore ; 

 but in her own fashion she acknowledges the claims 

 of friendship, and feels that kindness merits recog- 

 nition. Why else should she so constantly offer to 

 share her spoils with unappreciative mortals, who 

 have not even tact enough to pretend the satis- 

 faction they do not feel ? M. Brasseur Wirtgen, a 

 close and accurate observer, tells us that the two 

 things which marred the calm contentment of his 

 cat were his own studious habits, and his unfortu- 

 nate distaste for slain vermin. If he read long, she 

 would jump on his knee, and thrust her little head 

 between the pages of his book, as though seeking 

 the cause of his absorption ; and her solicitude for 

 his welfare prompted her to drag huge rats, still in 

 their death-throes, to his feet. " She behaved as 

 though I had been her son, and painfully endeav- 

 oured to provide me with a prey commensurate to 

 my size. Large game was unfit for her kittens ; 



