AND HER CAT. 65

From the top of a cupboard he had caught sight of his
affectionate guardian, had called upon her several times ;
and, as she did not answer
him, in his delirium he had iy) Hain
sprung against the door, jj,
through which he had just |
forced his way. |

“What! my cat was 22
here all the while!” said | {i
~ Dame Mitchell; “ you |
must have stolen him!
But my mistress is power-
ful; my mistress is Lady
Greenford; and she will |
have you punished as you
deserve.”

As she vented these

   

 

 

 

Ih Hh
ANT

Hg Wicoureet
threats, the housekeeper \
put Mowmouth under her arm, and was leaving the room,
when Mrs. Crustychin stopped her, and said to her: “Do
not ruin me, I implore you; I did not steal the cat.”

* Then how does he happen to be here ?”

“J received him from a young lad named Nicholas; he
gave me this cat, which I had long coveted, and whose
singular shape, and almost supernatural manners, was
likely to make him a most triumphant assistant in cabalis-
tic conjurations. That’s the whole truth; and, now I
beg of you not to injure me, through your mistress.”

“‘ The Countess will act as she pleases,” answered Dame
Mitchell disdainfully, and she vanished with her cat. She
made but one step from Mrs. Crustychin’s to the mansion;
and seemed to heve on the Ogre’s seven league boots. She
went straight to the drawing-room, where she arrived puff-
ing and blowing, and not being able to speak, she held up
Mowmouth to Lady Greenford. The Countess on recog-
nising the cat, uttered a cry of joy so loud, that the whole