"You must dig it, please, when you come back from afternoon school."
Abel suggested spots not practical in the other's opinion.
"A more secluded site would be better," he declared. "He was very fond of shade. In fact, rather a shady customer himself in his young days. But not a word against the dead. His old age was dignified and blameless. You don't remember the time when he used to steal chickens, do you?"
"He never did anything wrong that I know of," said Abel. "And he always came and padded on my bed of a morning, like as if he was riding a bicycle—and—and—"
He wept again.
"If I thought anybody had poisoned him, I'd poison them," he said.
"Think no such thing. He simply died because he couldn't go on living.
You shall have another cat, and it shall be your own."
"I don't want another cat. I hate all other cats but him."
They found a spot in a side walk, where lily of the valley grew, and later in the day Abel dug a grave.
Estelle happened to visit Mr. Churchouse and he explained the tragedy.