THE CAT. 75 



make without her friend, who had hitherto been her 

 constant table companion. The cat enjoyed the treat 

 with great glee, and seemed to have entirely forgotten 

 the dog. I had had a partridge for dinner, half of 

 which I intended to keep for supper. My wife covered 

 it with a plate, and put it into a cupboard, the door of 

 which she did not lock. The cat left the room, and I 

 walked out upon business. My wife, meanwhile, sat 

 at work in an adjoining apartment. When I returned 

 home she related to me the following circumstances : 

 The cat, having hastily left the dining-room, went to 

 the dog, and mewed uncommonly loud, and in different 

 tones of voice j which he from time to time answered 

 with a short bark. They then went both to the door 

 of the room where the cat had dined, and waited till it 

 was opened. One of my children opened the door, and 

 the two friends entered the apartment. The mewing of 

 the cat excited my wife's attention. She rose from her 

 seat, and stepped softly up to the door which stood ajar, 

 to observe what was going on. The cat led the dog to 

 the cupboard which contained the partridge, pushed off 

 the plate which covered it, and taking out my intended 

 supper, laid it before her canine friend, who devoured 

 it greedily. 



" Probably, the cat by her mewing had given the dog 



