Concerning Cats 



ing an invisible treasure. Asleep or awake, in rest of 

 in motion, grave or gay, Agrippina is always beautiful ; 

 and it is better to be beautiful than to fetch and 

 carry from the rising to the setting of the sun. 



" But when Agrippina has breakfasted and washed, 

 and sits in the sunlight blinking at me with affec- 

 tionate contempt, I feel soothed by her absolute and 

 unqualified enjoyment. I know how full my day 

 will be of things that I don't want particularly to do, 

 and that are not particularly worth doing; but for 

 her, time and the world hold only this brief moment 

 of contentment. Slowly the eyes close, gently the 

 little body is relaxed. Oh, you who strive to relieve 

 your overwrought nerves and cultivate power through 

 repose, watch the exquisite languor of a drowsy cat, 

 and despair of imitating such perfect and restful 

 grace. There is a gradual yielding of every muscle 

 to the soft persuasiveness of slumber : the flexible 

 frame is curved into tender lines, the head nestles 

 lower, the paws are tucked out of sight : no convul- 

 sive throb or start betrays a rebellious alertness : only 

 a faint quiver of unconscious satisfaction, a faint 

 heaving of the tawny sides, a faint gleam of the half- 

 shut yellow eyes, and Agrippina is asleep. I look 

 at her for one wistful moment and then turn reso- 

 lutely to my work. It were ignoble to wish myself in 

 her place : and yet how charming to be able to settle 

 down to a nap, sans peur et sans reproche, at ten o'clock 

 in the morning." 



72 



