tty!"

Slowly, my father approached her outstretched hand, and allowed her to
scratch the thick fur on the back of his neck.

"Aren't you the pretty little pussy! Aren't you the sweetest little
thing!"

"Joanna!"

She lifted my father by the haunches, and held him in her lap, stroking
his fur and cooing the silly little words that women address to their
pets. The sight pained and confused me, and I sought to find an opening
word that would allow me to explain, yet hoping all the time that my
father would himself provide the answer.

Then my father spoke.

"Meow," he said.

"Are you hungry?" Joanna asked solicitously. "Is the little pussy
hungry?"

"Meow," my father said, and I believed my heart broke then and there. He
leaped from her lap and padded across the room. I watched him through
blurred eyes as he followed Francois to the corner, where the servant
had placed a shallow bowl of milk. He lapped at it eagerly, until the
last white drop was gone. Then he yawned and stretched, and trotted back
to the doorway, with one fleeting glance in my direction that spoke
articulately of what I must do next.

"What a wonderful animal," Joanna said.

"Yes," I answered. "He was my mother's favorite."

[Illustration]

Transcriber's Note:

This etext was produced from _Fantastic Universe_ December 1957.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S.
copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and
typographical errors have been corrected without note.

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