At this point Mufty lifted himself lightly in the air, after the manner peculiar to cats, and landed in Polly’s lap. After switching his tail across her eyes once or twice, and rubbing himself against the book in rather a disturbing way, he at last settled down, and began purring vigorously in token of satisfaction. The room was very cold, and Polly, without interrupting her reading, was glad to bury her hands in the thick fur. Presently the colour in her cheeks grew brighter and her breath came quicker. There was a way, after all! People had been saved, people a good deal sicker than Dan,—saved by a 141 change of climate. What could be simpler? Just to pick Dan up and carry him off! And such fun, too!
“Mufty,” she whispered, excitedly, “Mufty, what should you say to Dan and me going away and never coming back again?”
“Brrrrr, brrrrr,” quoth Mufty.
“I knew you would approve! You know how necessary it is, and you think it best to do it; don’t you, Mufty?”
“Brrrr, brrrrrrrrrr,” quoth Mufty, again.
“O Mufty, what a darling you are, to approve! And there isn’t really any one’s opinion that I care more about!”
She got up and went to the window, while Mufty, not to be dislodged, hastily established himself across her shoulder, his fore paws well down her back, his tail contentedly waving before her eyes. The picture which he thus turned his back upon was a wintry one.
“Cold morning, isn’t it, Mufty?” said Polly. “No kind of a climate for a delicate person.” 142
“Brrrr, brrrrrr!” Mufty was digging a claw into her shoulder to adjust himself more comfortably.
“Ow!” cried Polly. Then, lifting him down: “Mufty, you’re a very intelligent cat, and I haven’t a doubt that your judgment is as penetrating as your claws. All the same, I guess you’d better get down and come with me and help Susan get the breakfast. Don’t you hear her shaking down the kitchen stove?”