But little Tom Richards was better to-night, and sitting up in his chair by the fireside. He was delighted when Shireen came in, and made his mother place a saucer of milk down for her, and puss drank a little just to please the boy.
Then she permitted him to nurse her for quite a long time. Tom, child though he was, quite appreciated the value of this compliment; for although Shireen would permit a child to take her up, and even to pull her about and tease her, no grown-up person, with the exception of the Colonel and his wife, must dare to handle her.
But Shireen jumped down at last, and begged Tommy’s mother to open the door to her.
“Oh, don’t let pussy go yet!” pleaded the boy.
“I must, dear, I must,” said his mother, “else she may not come again.”
This was very true, for cats cannot bear restraint of any kind. If they are to be truly happy they must be allowed to go and come as they please.
Before going home Shireen had still another fireside to visit. And this was Emily’s.
A very humble hearth indeed; but poor Emily’s eyes sparkled with joy when Shireen came trotting in.
“Oh, Shireen dear, is it you?” she cried. “Oh, you beautiful good puss, and I haven’t seen you since Cracker nearly killed the butcher’s dog. Look, pussy, here is Cracker.”
Yes, there was Cracker, sure enough, and the dog and cat at once exchanged courtesies. Had you seen them lying together in front of the fire a few minutes after this, reader, you would never again have made use of that silly phrase—a cat and dog life. Cats and dogs, if brought up together, do agree. It is mankind that causes them to be enemies. A dog is far too noble an animal to touch a cat, unless he has been trained to look upon her as vermin.