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THE CAT^<br />
Eponine<br />
Eponine is a small <strong>cat</strong>, very deli<strong>cat</strong>ely made.<br />
Her eyes have <strong>the</strong> oblique slant of <strong>the</strong> Chinese, and<br />
are sea-green like <strong>the</strong> eyes of Pallas A<strong>the</strong>ne; her<br />
little velvety nose looks like a fine truffle of Peri-<br />
gord; her physiognomy is charmingly expressive;<br />
her superb fur is of a deep and lustrous black.<br />
Never was <strong>cat</strong> more nervous, sensitive and sympa-<br />
<strong>the</strong>tic. Never was <strong>cat</strong> more charged with elec-<br />
tricity. If you stroke her smooth back on a winter<br />
night, tiny blue sparks flash beneath your hand.<br />
She is <strong>the</strong> soul of hospitality, and delights to re-<br />
ceive my visitors, leading <strong>the</strong> way into <strong>the</strong> salon,<br />
and entertaining <strong>the</strong>m as best she can with polite<br />
little sounds, intended for conversation.<br />
" Do not<br />
be impatient," she tries to say, " Monsieur is com-<br />
ing down. Look at <strong>the</strong> pictures, or, if I amuse<br />
you, talk to me." When I enter, she retires dis-<br />
creetly to an armchair, or a corner of <strong>the</strong> piano,<br />
and listens to <strong>the</strong> conversation without interrupting<br />
it, as one accustomed from kittenhood to good<br />
society.<br />
At breakfast and at dinner Eponine sits by my<br />
side, being permitted, because she is so small, to<br />
rest her fore-paws on <strong>the</strong> extreme edge of <strong>the</strong> table.<br />
She has her own plate and tumbler, and she waits<br />
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