“‘Yes, nice enough—as people go.’
“‘Pretty willing? Look after you well, and all that sort of thing?’
“‘Yes—oh yes. I’ve no fault to find with them.’
“‘What’s the victuals like?’
“‘Oh, the usual thing, you know, bones and scraps, and a bit of dog-biscuit now and then for a change.’
“‘Bones and dog-biscuits! Do you mean to say you eat bones?’
“‘Yes, when I can get ’em. Why, what’s wrong about them?’
“‘Shade of Egyptian Isis, bones and dog-biscuits! Don’t you ever get any spring chickens, or a sardine, or a lamb cutlet?’
“‘Chickens! Sardines! What are you talking about? What are sardines?’
“‘What are sardines! Oh, my dear child (the Chinchilla was a lady cat, and always called gentlemen friends a little older than herself ‘dear child’), these people of yours are treating you just shamefully. Come, sit down and tell me all about it. What do they give you to sleep on?’