8 THE HISTORY OF DAME MITCHELL AND HER CAT.

But now that your compassion has been satisfied, you ex-
amine me, and my ugliness excites your contempt! Alas!
I thought you good, but you are not good; you have only
the instinct of goodness, not goodness itself. Were you
truly charitable, you would feel for me the more on ac-
count of that very ugliness which displeases you; nay, you
would reflect that my troubles spring from my ill looks; and
that this same cause will once more expose me to the same
effects, if you cast me forth again unprotected, at the mercy
of these ruthless boys. Make no boast of such partial be-
nevolence! you have done me no service, for you have only
prolonged my misery: I am lone and unfriended, the whole
world turns away from me; I am condemned to die, let
my fate be fulfilled!”

Lady Greenford was moved to tears by this wonderful
cat. She thought of the doctrine of transmigration of
souls, and fancied that this extraordinary animal must have
been a great orator and moralist before he assumed his
present form. So she turned to her attendant, Dame
Mitchell, who was in the coach, and said :—

“Take the cat and carry it home.”

« What! do you mean to keep him, madame?” replied
Dame Mitchell.

“ Certainly, I do: as long as I live this poor creature
shall have a seat at my table and a place at my hearth;
and if you wish to please me, you will treat him with the
same care and kindness as myself.”

«Madame, you shall be obeyed.”

“Very well, then; let us now drive home.”