14 THE HISTORY OF DAME MITCHELL

“Don’t you meddle with him, I request,” interrupted
Lady Greentord. “ You know he has taken a dislike to you,
and the very sight of you puts him in a rage—for what
reason I cannot tell; but the truth is he cannot bear you.”

“Tis so, indeed,” said Daddy Sharpphiz, with a deep
sigh; “but the cat is unjust, for I like him though he does
not like me.”

* So is my sister unjust; the cats may like her, but
she does not like them: I bear with her prejudice, do you
bear with Mowmouth’s.” Having said this much in a
tone of authority, Lady Greenford turned to her house-
keeper: “It is to you, Dame Mitchell, and to you alone,
that I trust him: mind you restore him to me well and
sound, and I will load you with favours. I am sixty-five,
you are ten years younger, it is therefore probable that
you will close my eyes ”

“ Oh, my lady! why do you allude to such a painful
subject ?”

“Let me conclude. To provide against accidents, I
had already secured you a comfortable livelihood ; but if
you protect Mowmouth, and preserve him against injury,
I will give you a pension of one hundred pounds.”

* Oh, my lady,” said Dame Mitchell, touched to the
quick, “ there is no need of stimulating my duty by re-
wards: I like your cat with all my heart, and will always
be devoted to him.”

“T am convinced of it, and will, therefore, reward your
devotion.”

During this conference, Daddy Sharpphiz did all he
could to conceal his jealousy. “ Every thing for her, and
nothing for me!” said he. “ One hundred pounds a-year!
why it’s a fortune. Shall she have this? No! she never
shall.”

The next day, as early as eight o’clock in the morn-
ing, four mettlesome horses were put to the postchaise,
which was to carry the excellent dowager down to Wor-