XV 
OLD BLACK IE 
I had often wondered how it happened that 
a busy woman like mistress was so much interested 
in cats, till one evening the mystery was cleared 
up. A lovely lady whom Guy called “ Aunt 
Minnie ” was staying with us at the time — and by 
the way we cats are very happy whenever she 
comes to visit us, because then somebody always 
sends such beautiful flowers. 
I had climbed up into mistress’ lap to listen to a 
story she was reading about some Cat Club. But 
as it was only about Angoras and Persian cats, and 
not a word about Maltese and tigers, it did not in- 
terest me very much, and I curled up and took a 
nap. When I awoke, mistress was talking, and the 
first I heard was : 
“ When I was a little girl in Switzerland, we had 
horses, cows, dogs, cats and rabbits, and I was very 
fond of them all. I suppose the reason I have be- 
come so fond of cats is because I have for many 
102 
