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THE CA^<br />
A Letter of Condolence<br />
As one ought to be particularly careful to avoid<br />
blunders in a compliment of condolence, it would<br />
be a sensible satisfaction to me (before I testify<br />
my sorrow, and <strong>the</strong> sincere part I take in your<br />
misfortune) to know for certain who it is I lament.<br />
I knew Zara and Selima (Selima was it, or<br />
Fatima?), or ra<strong>the</strong>r I knew <strong>the</strong>m both toge<strong>the</strong>r;<br />
for I cannot justly say which was which. Then<br />
as to your handsome Cat, <strong>the</strong> name you distinguish<br />
her by, I am no less at a loss, as well knowing one's<br />
handsome <strong>cat</strong> is always <strong>the</strong> <strong>cat</strong> one likes best ; or if<br />
one be alive and <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r dead, it is usually <strong>the</strong><br />
latter that is <strong>the</strong> handsomest. Besides, if <strong>the</strong> point<br />
were never so clear, I hope you do not think me<br />
so ill-bred or so imprudent as to forfeit all my<br />
interest in <strong>the</strong> survivor. Oh, no ! I would ra<strong>the</strong>r<br />
seem to mistake, and imagine to be sure it must be<br />
<strong>the</strong> tabby one that has met with this sad accident.<br />
... I feel (as you have done long since) that I<br />
have very little to say, at least in prose. Some-<br />
body will be <strong>the</strong> better for it; I do not mean you,<br />
but your Cat, feue Mademoiselle Selime, whom I<br />
am about to immortalize for one week or fortnight.<br />
Thomas Gray to Horace Walpole.<br />
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