218 
EAULY AUGUST DAYS 
Keith struck it with a broom she had in her hand, 
at which it dropped the poor bird and sprang over 
the wall for its life. The bird was still warm, 
and for an instant Mrs. Keith thought she could 
feel its heart beating. 
‘'Never again will I allow a cat to come on this 
place,'’ she said later to Joseph and me. “Your 
Aunt Amanda never had one here.” 
“But the cat did not ask your permission to 
come,” Joseph replied, “and probably it never 
will.” 
Then we all thought it was a great pity Mrs. 
Keith had not struck it harder with the broom. 
