Julius loosened his hold of Bruno, who advanced eagerly.
Rebecca received him with a flash of her paw which left a long deep scratch on his nose. He retreated whining and growling. Julius comforted him, while I took Rebecca in hand. For some time we reasoned and experimented with them, until finally we had the satisfaction of seeing Rebecca let down her bristles and begin to purr while Julius smoothed her head and back with Bruno's paw.
After that they kept the peace fairly well, though Rebecca always boxed his ears when she came in and found him licking and nosing her kittens.
We tried to keep him away from them, but he did love them so. He would watch Rebecca out of one eye as he lay dozing, and as soon as she started on a hunt, he would go tiptoeing to the kitten-box for a frolic.
Soon they grew quite fond of playing with his big curly ears, and forgot to spit and scratch.
CHAPTER II
One morning when Julius got up, he could find only one of his slippers. After a long search the other was found under the edge of the washing-stand, but in a decidedly dilapidated condition.
It had evidently been gnawed.