A NARROW ESCAPE. 13

the result, and I stand still for a minute in
order to watch its progress.

Horror of horrors! it is pursuing a remorse-
less course towards the drawing-room door,
and I hear Father coming across to that end
of the room. I am just meditating hiding
behind one of the large rhododendrons which
are close behind me, when there is a light
thud near the open window. I turn hastily
and see my great Tabby Tom standing on
three legs in the midst of the water shaking
the drops from his fourth paw.

I conclude that Father has seen him, too;
for, after looking with disgust at the rapidly
spreading stream, he goes back to my aunt
and says, “That cat is always upsetting some-
thing, and it shall be drowned. I’ve said so
before, but this time I'll see it done myself.”

I hear a mild remonstrance from Mother,
and manage to catch the words, “ Madge’s
Cat—had him for years’—but Father im-
mediately shuts her up by saying, “Nonsense!
if Madge doesn’t like it she can do the other
thing;” and the next thing I hear is the slam