THE CAT 



friend sleeping by the fire, she would steal up to 

 her very softly, and with as much caution as if she 

 were stalking a mouse. Moumoutte Blanche, al- 

 ways nervous, pettish, and averse to being dis- 

 turbed, would sometimes resent the 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 tails of her eyes, as 

 though to say : " She has a difficult temper, hasn't 

 she; but you know I never take her seriously." 

 Then with gentle determination she would nestle 

 resolutely by Blanche's side, and bury her head in 

 the soft white fur. Her glance of drowsy triumph 

 expressed the fulness of her content. " This is 

 what I was after," it said, " and here I am." 



Vies de Deux Chattes, Pierre Loti. 



94 



