'But aren't the mice afraid of you?'
'Of me?' The great Cat drew herself up to her full height. 'Anyone would think, to hear you, that I was a common cat.' And she was really cross for nearly an hour.
That was the only approach to a quarrel that the two ever had.
Sometimes, at first, the Princess used to say:
'How long am I to stay here, pussy-nurse?'
And the Cat always said in nurse's voice:
'Till you're grown up, my dear.'
And the years went by, and each year found the Princess more good, and clever, and beautiful. And at last she was quite grown up.
'Now,' said the Cat briskly, 'we must get to work. There's a Prince in a kingdom a long way off, and he's the only person who can get you off this island.'
'Does he know?' asked Everilda.