60 OUR PUSS.

fast, well knowing that each of her three little friends would
share something with her. A remarkable fact was the par-
tiality she constantly showed for one sturdy little fellow—
the eldest of the three—whom she would follow over the
house like a litéle dog. She would sit on his chair during
meals, and while he was at play in the bright sunshine, would
take up her position on the window-sill, singing thrums while
watching with apparent interest her little favourite’s merry
gambols. The singular circumstance in Puss’s special attach-
ment to this chubby-cheeked little rogue was the undoubted
fact that, in his earlier days, he was by far her greatest tor-
mentor.

But to our tale. One holiday season, a long railway and
sea passage before we could reach our destination, made it
impracticable for Puss to accompany us. A kind neighbour,
however, undertook to see her well provided for during our
absence. Accordingly, before shutting up the house, we took
care to see Puss placed in her temporary home, which hap-
pened to be the adjoining house. Train and steamer did
their usual work; and, in a comparatively short time, we
were several hundred miles removed from our own home.
In the excitement of the journey, the thorough change of
scene, and the hearty meeting with loved friends at our
journey’s end, time went so pleasantly that, to tell the truth,
we had no great thought of Puss, but believed she would be
comfortable and well-conducted, as she usually contrived to
be. Our house was shut up for two months in all, but at
the end of a fortnight I made a temporary return visit, when
the following facts regarding Puss were communicated by
the neighbour who had kindly promised to take care of her.