over the cat and
sprained his ankle. He will be quite a week getting well again."

"And the cat?" asked our host, comically.

"Pauvre Minette!" answered Madame Mirmiton, with tears in her voice.
"She flew up the chimney. We have never seen her since--two days ago."

"Well, whether you or your bon homme bring them, these oysters are
equally a propos. I am sure ces messieurs will enjoy our natives for
dejeuner. I have it!" he cried, striking his forehead. "You shall have
an early dejeuner, and start immediately after for St. Thegonnec,
instead of delaying it until to-morrow. You will have plenty of time,
and must profit by the fine weather. I will order dejeuner at once, and
the carriage in an hour."

So are there times when our days, and occasionally the whole course of
our lives, are apparently changed by the turning of a straw.

Having mentioned the oysters, we ought also to record their excellence.
Catherine flew about the salle a manger, served us with her own hands,
and gave us her whole attention, for we had the room to ourselves. She
was proud of our praise.

"There is nothing better than our lobsters and oysters," she remarked.
"I always say so, and Mirmiton always brings us the best of the good.
But to-day it was Madame who came in. Ah! _the Cat_!" laughing
satirically. "The cat comes in for everything, everywhere. She is a
domestic animal invented for two reasons: to catch mice and to furnish
an excuse for whatever happens. I dare affirm it was a glass too much
and not the cat that caused the bon homme to sprain his ankle."

But we who had heard Madame Mirmiton's chapter and verse, were of a
different opinion. Every rule has an exception, and the cat is certainly
in fault--sometimes.

We started for St. Thegonnec. Monsieur packed us into the victoria, a
heavy vehicle well matched by the horse and the man. We should certainly
not fly on the wings of the wind.

"Take umbrellas," cried Madame Hellard, prudently, from the doorway.
"Remember your drenching that day, and what fatal consequences _might_
have happened."

But we saw no necessity for umbrellas to-day, for there was not a cloud
in the sky.

"Still, to please you, I will take my macintosh," said H.C.; "it is
hanging up in the hall."

But the macintosh had disappeared. A traveller who had left by the last
train had good-naturedly appropriated it to his own use and service. It
was that admirable macintosh that has already adorned these pages,