esame" to every door. The cat that works hard dies of
starvation, the cat that has brains is kicked downstairs for a fool, and
the cat that has virtue is drowned for a scamp; but the cat that has
cheek sleeps on a velvet cushion and dines on cream and horseflesh. I
marched straight in and rubbed myself against the old man's legs. He and
his wife were quite taken with what they called my "trustfulness," and
adopted me with enthusiasm. Strolling about the fields of an evening I
often used to hear the children of the cottage calling my name. It was
weeks before they gave up seeking for me. One of them, the youngest,
would sob herself to sleep of a night, thinking that I was dead: they
were affectionate children.

"'I boarded with my shopkeeping friends for nearly a year, and from them
I went to some new people who had lately come to the neighbourhood, and
who possessed a really excellent cook. I think I could have been very
satisfied with these people, but, unfortunately, they came down in the
world, and had to give up the big house and the cook, and take a cottage,
and I did not care to go back to that sort of life.

"'Accordingly I looked about for a fresh opening. There was a curious
old fellow who lived not far off. People said he was rich, but nobody
liked him. He was shaped differently from other men. I turned the
matter over in my mind for a day or two, and then determined to give him
a trial. Being a lonely sort of man, he might make a fuss over me, and
if not I could go.

"'My surmise proved correct. I have never been more petted than I was by
"Toady," as the village boys had dubbed him. My present guardian is
foolish enough over me, goodness knows, but she has other ties, while
"Toady" had nothing else to love, not even himself. He could hardly
believe his eyes at first when I jumped up on his knees and rubbed myself
against his ugly face. "Why, Kitty," he said, "do you know you're the
first living thing that has ever come to me of its own accord." There
were tears in his funny little red eyes as he said that.

"'I remained two years with "Toady," and was very happy indeed. Then he
fell ill, and strange people came to the house, and I was neglected.
"Toady" liked me to come up and lie upon the bed, where he could stroke
me with his long, thin hand, and at first I used to do this. But a sick
man is not the best of company, as you can imagine, and the atmosphere of
a sick room not too healthy,