now what became of--but I must not forestall my story.

I jumped on to the gentleman's shoulder. In doing so, I knocked his hat
over one eye. But I have seen it so since then, and he made no
complaint. The man-servant opened the door, and we went into the house
together.

CHAPTER II.

I flatter myself that my head is not remarkable for size and beauty
alone. I am a cat of mind, and I made it up at once as to the course of
conduct to pursue.

I am also a cat with some powers of observation, and I have observed
that two things go a long way with men--flattery and persistence. Also
that the difficulty of coaxing them is not in direct proportion to their
size--rather the reverse. Another thing that I have observed is, that
if you want to be well-treated, or have a favour to ask, it is a great
thing to have a good coat on your back in good order.

How many a human being has sleeked the rich softness of my magnificent
tiger skin, and then said, in perfect good faith, "How Toots enjoys
being stroked!"

"How you enjoy the feel of my fur, you mean," I am tempted to say. But I
do not say it. It doesn't do to disturb the self-complacency of people
who have the control of the milk-jug.

Having made up my mind to coax the gentleman into adopting me, I devoted
myself entirely to him for the evening, and ignored the rest of the
party, as serenely as a cat knows how. Again and again did he put me
down with firm, but not ungentle hands, saying--"Go down, Toots," and
pick stray hairs in a fidgety manner off his dress-trousers; and again
and again did I return to his shoulder (where he couldn't see the hairs)
and purr in his ear, and rub my long whiskers against his short ones.

But it was not till he was comfortably established in an arm-chair by
the drawing-room fire, round which the rest of the family were also
seated, that the charm began to work.

"How devoted Toots is to you!" purred the ladies, after an ineffectual
effort on my part to share the arm-chair.

"You're a very foolish Toots," said the gentleman. (I was back on his
shoulder by this time.)

"Toots, you've deserted me," said my young mistress. "I'm quite
jealous," she added.

"Toots, you brute!" cried the gentleman, seizing me in both hands.
"Where's your good taste, and your gratitude? Go to your mistress, sir,"
and he threw me into her lap. But I sprang back to his shoulder with one
leap.

"It's really most extraordinary," said one lady.

"And