CH. III.] FRIENDS PARTED. 189 



was in the habit of ascending to the room where 

 I used to sit. Being very fond of the maid as 

 well as of myself, she used to besport herself or 

 sleep contentedly enough in her room, and evinced 

 no desire to leave it, until she heard my step 

 approaching on my way up-stairs. She was then 

 up and after me in a moment, following me to 

 my room, and taking up her favourite position 

 on my table, where she used to sit, if I would 

 allow it, with her paw over my hand whilst I was 

 writing, a proceeding of which many a blot was the 

 consequence. 



From the position of the lady's-maid's room, 

 it was impossible for the kitten to have seen 

 who was approaching the staircase, but her sense 

 of hearing was so acute, that, though many other 

 persons ascended it in the course of the morning, 

 she (as I was assured, and have no reason to dis- 

 believe) never attempted to move at the approach 

 of any other step than my own. 



The bond of friendship which thus existed 

 between us was however condemned to be broken. 

 I was absent from home for a good while, during 

 which the kitten, having attained to the age of 

 cat-hood, retired from the upper part of the house, 

 where we should perhaps have revived our in- 



