AND HER CAT. 31

had appeased his appetite, he wished to withdraw and go in
search of Lady Greenford’s house; but the baker prevented
his retreat.

“Stop a bit,” said he, “I wanted a good cat; and as
God has sent me one, I should never forgive myself were
I to let him go. Hollo, James! close up every opening,
and if the rogue tries to make off, give him three or four
blows with the broom.”

Thus it happened that Mowmouth’s host became his
tyrant: so true it is that personal interest will deprave and
corrupt the best natures. Our cat, as if he had understood
what was doing, sprang without hesitation upon the shoul-
ders of the journeyman, and thence into the public way.
A new danger, however, presented itself: startled by this
sudden apparition, a huge bull-dog couched before him.

   

 

 

 

Mowmouth would have gladly avoided so disproportioned
a strugele; but the dog’s eyes were riveted upon him: he
watched every move; turned with Mowmouth first to the
right and then to the left, and growled in a threatening
voice. Both stood still upon the watch: the bull-dog with