Concerning Cats 



closet door left ajar, a box with half-closed lid, an 

 open bureau drawer, — these are the objects that fill 

 a cat with the liveliest interest and delight. Agrip- 

 pina watches breathlessly the unfastening of a parcel, 

 and tries to hasten matters by clutching actively 

 at the string. When its contents are shown to 

 her, she examines them gravely, and then, with a 

 sigh of relief, settles down to repose. The slightest 

 noise disturbs and irritates her until she discovers its 

 cause. If she hears a footstep in the hall, she runs 

 out to see whose it is, and, like certain troublesome 

 little people I have known, she dearly loves to go to 

 the front door every time the bell is rung. From 

 my window she surveys the street with tranquil 

 scrutiny, and if the boys are playing below, she 

 follows their games with a steady, scornful stare, 

 very different from the wistful eagerness of a friendly 

 dog, quivering to join in the sport. Sometimes the 

 boys catch sight of her, and shout up rudely at her 

 window ; and I can never sufficiently admire Agrip- 

 pina's conduct upon these trying occasions, the well- 

 bred composure with which she aflFects neither to see 

 nor to hear them, nor to be aware that there are such 

 objectionable creatures as children in the world. 

 Sometimes, too, the terrier that lives next door comes 

 out to sun himself in the street, and, beholding my 

 cat sitting well out of reach, he dances madly up 

 and down the pavement, barking with all his might, 

 and rearing himself on his short legs, in a futile 



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