the cat - World eBook Library

THE CAT
there seating himself with his back turned scorn-
fully to an offending world. Even in his kindliest
corner, on such occasions, the expression of his
scornful back was as a whole volume of winged
words.
But the rare little cat tantrums of the Shah de
Perse — if to his so gentle excesses may be applied
so strong a term — were but as sun-spots on the
effulgence of his otherwise constant amiability.
The regnant desires by which his worthy little life
was governed were to love and to please. He was
the most cuddlesome cat, Madame Jolicoeur un-
hesitatingly asserted, that ever had lived; and he
had a purr — softly thunderous and winningly af-
fectionate — that was in keeping with his cuddle-
some ways. When, of his own volition, he would
jump into her abundant lap, and go burrowing with
his soft little round head beneath her soft round
elbows, the while gurglingly purring forth his love
for her, Madame Jolicoeur, quite justifiably, at
times was moved to tears. Equally was his sweet
nature exhibited in his always eager willingness to
show off his little train of cat accomplishments.
He would give his paw with a courteous grace to
any lady or gentleman — he drew the caste line
rigidly — who asked for it. For his mistress, he
would spring to a considerable height, and clutch
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