CHAPTER VI
THE RETURN VISIT
When Tompkins got back, however, Salome was looking anything but beautiful. In fact she was looking as ugly and disagreeable a cat as you can imagine. You see, she wanted brushing very badly and she simply hated it. As soon as she saw her own special brush and comb being brought out, she would hump herself up with her ears back, and look a perfect bunch of bad temper. This time she was worse than usual, for her long fur had got tangled, and as the comb pulled, she turned round and spat at it.
Tompkins and Minette looked on tremblingly; they had never seen their mother in such a rage. Tompkins was glad the kitchen kittens couldn’t see the mother he had boasted about; how they would have jeered.
When all was over, Salome flounced back into the basket and curled herself up to forget her annoyances in sleep, and her children took care not to disturb her. They whispered together and Tompkins told Minette all about the kitchen kittens. Minette was so excited she forgot to be jealous and kept interrupting with: “Oh, can’t I see them too?” and “What fun we might all have together! Couldn’t we ask them to come here?”
“Wait till we are quite alone,” whispered Tompkins, “and then we will invite them properly to tea.”
“How lovely!” said Minette, but she couldn’t help wondering where the tea was to come from.
The very next day the chance came, for the door was left open, no one was about, and actually there was a tea tray on the table.
