AND HER CAT. 39

« That’s the thing for me,” said he, putting the paper
in his pocket; “ratsbane must also be catsbane, and our
loving Mowmouth shall prove it.”

«What can I do for you, worthy Dame Mitchell?”

“It is five o’clock, Mr. Sharpphiz, and you are for-
getting my cat.”

«TJ, forget him!” exclaimed the butler, joining his hands,
as if he felt grieved by the remark: “I was this moment
thinking of him. I am going to make him such a nice de-
licious pie that he will long for it every day.”

“ Thank you, Mr. Sharpphiz; I shall not fail to inform
the countess of your attention to her favourite. I have
received a letter from
her this very day: she
: tells me that she will
So Dame Mutchell, shortly return home,

, | that she trusts to find

at Lady Greenford J,| Mowmouth in good

case, and that she

Chelsea. means to give me a

handsome gratuity.

* You will readily con-

ceive my delight, Mr. Sharpphiz. My sister is left a widow

with four children to bring up, to whom I send every year

all my little savings; hitherto this assistance has been very

trifling, but now, thanks to the Countess’s presents, these

poor children may be sent to school and afterwards put to
learn a good trade.”

As she spoke, Dame Mitchell’s eyes glistened with joy
through her tears, for she felt the delight which springs
from the contemplation of good deeds. But the wicked
butler was not moved. He had s0 fully resigned himself
to his evil passions that they completely enslaved him, and
smothered by degrees every good feeling, as the foul tares,
if allowed to grow, stifle the wholesome corn.

One would have thought that Mowmouth understood