"'There,' said I, pointing to the post, 'Isn't it a beauty; I wonder if it would let me stroke it!'
"'I see no cat,' said he.
"'There on the post,' said I, but he declared he saw nothing, though puss sat there in perfect composure during this colloquy.
"'Don't you see the cat, James,' said I, in great perplexity to the groom.
"'Yes, ma'am; a large white cat on that post.'
"I thought my friend must be joking, or else losing his eye-sight, and I approached the cat, intending to take it in my arms, and carry it to the carriage; but as I drew near, she jumped off the post, which was natural enough—but to my surprise she jumped into nothing—as she jumped she disappeared! no cat in the field—none in the lane—none in the ditch!
"'Where did she go, James?'
"'I don't know, ma'am, I can't see her,' said the groom, standing up in his seat, and looking all round.
"I was quite bewildered; but still I had no glimmering of the truth; and when I got into the carriage again, my friend said he thought I and James were dreaming, and I retorted that I thought he must be going blind.
"I had a commission to execute as we passed through the town, and I alighted for that purpose at the little haberdasher's; and while they were serving me, I mentioned that I had seen a remarkably beautiful cat sitting on a gate in the lane; and asked if they could tell me who it belonged to, adding, it was the largest cat I ever saw.