THE CAT AND THE BURGLARS. 63

Treland. While there, a cat became very strongly attached
to her. Though allowed to enter the school-room and dining-
room, where she was fed and petted, the animal never. came
into the lady’s bedroom, nor was she, indeed, in the habit
of going into that part of the house at any time.

One night, however, after retiring to rest, Miss P

 

was disturbed by the gentle but continual mewing of the
cat at her bedroom door. At first she was not inclined to
give heed to the cat’s behaviour, but the constancy of the
animal, and the uncommon tones of her voice, at length in-
duced her to open the door. The cat, on this, bounded for-
ward, and circled round her rapidly, looking up in her face,
mewing earnestly. Miss P———, thinking that the cat had
only taken a fancy to pay her a visit, refastened the door,
intending to let her remain in the room; but this did not
appear to please Pussy at all. She sprang back to the door,
mewing more loudly than before; then she came again to
the lady, and then went to the door, as if asking her to
follow.

“What is it you want?” exclaimed Miss P——. “ Well,
go away, if you do not wish to stay!” and she opened the
door ; but the cat, instead of going, again began running to
and fro between the door and her friend, continuing to mew
as she looked up into her face.

Miss P.
noise, as if coming from the outside of one of the windows

 

’s attention was now attracted by a strange

on the ground-floor. A few moments more convinced her

that some persons were trying to break into the house.
Instantly throwing a shawl around her, she hurried along

the passage, the cat gliding by her side, purring now with