"But you haven't answered my question yet," said Puss.
"Oh," replied the miller. "You mean because I care for nobody and nobody cares for me."
"Yes; I don't quite understand it."
"Come inside and I'll explain it to you," said the miller.
Puss walked inside and sat down on a bag of flour. "All I do is to grind corn for people," continued the miller, sitting down on a dusty stool. "They bring their corn in to be ground and then they leave. When they come back the corn is ready for them,—that is, the flour. They take it away and I'm left all alone. So what do I do? Well, I make friends with a little mouse and a big rat that live in the old mill." As he spoke the little mouse ran out of her hole and sat down by the miller. "We are great friends, aren't we, mousie?" he said.
The little mouse squeaked, "Yes, Mr. Miller."
Then the big rat came out and sat down by the miller, only on the other side.
"Aren't we great friends?" asked the miller.
The rat said, "You are the best friend I have." At which the miller smiled and Puss grinned.
"Animals make good friends," said the miller.