40 THE HISTORY OF DAME MITCHELL

what this man said; for he crawled up to the place where
Dame Mitchell had sat down to chat for a while, and, after
entreating her with his looks, began to pull her by the
gown, as much as to say, “ Let us go away from here.”

“Take care!” said the excellent dame, “you will tear
my gown.”

 

But Mowmouth repeated the action.

* Do you want to go out?” resumed the dame.

Mowmouth capered briskly.

* Positively,” added she, “this cat is never at his ease
out of the drawing-room.” °

So she got up and left the room: Mowmouth leading
the way and jumping for joy.

A quarter of an hour later, the butler had prepared a
most savoury pie, made of poultry, the best white bread,
and other ingredients, deservedly esteemed by gourmands.

After having introduced
a large dose of ratsbane,
he set it down in the ante-
chamber to the drawing-
room, and, throwing open
the door, he cried out,—
“Sir, your dinner is
ready.”
On beholding this deli-
cate fare, Mowmouth
trembled with delight,
= for confess it we must,
he was something of a