"I do not see any contradiction," she replied; "one may be useful without being conspicuous. If I can fill my own little post quietly, so as to please you and my master, I am content that no one else should even know of my existence. My climbing exploits are only for my own pleasure, as you know. I have no ambition."
"Such a life would not satisfy me at all," I answered.
"So much the better," said Puss; "there would be few great things done in the world if no one were more energetic or daring than I. It is a capital thing that there should be such as you, able and willing to defend the weak, and to stand up for the right without fear of consequences. It is your proper part, and I am truly grateful to you for acting it so nobly as you did yesterday."
This view of the matter soothed my feelings; and for the present, at any rate, I was glad that Pussy's retiring disposition should have its way. The more she crept through by-ways and slunk into corners, the better I was pleased, for I was too fond of her to wish to see her in danger for the sake of my own honour and glory.
So with care and caution we went on our way, taking every means to avoid not only dogs and boys, but even older and wiser beings; and at last, under lamp-posts and door-posts, through kennels and gutters, now creeping along the ledge of a wall, now hiding under the shelter of a friendly porch, always watching each other at every step we took, we arrived at our own door.
All necessity for caution being now happily at an end, I indulged myself in a bark loud enough to rouse the house, though too joyous to alarm it. Presently our good friend John appeared in the area, talking to himself while going about his work. We heard him say in a hesitating manner, "I could not help almost fancying that I heard my poor Captain's bark; but I know it is nothing but my folly, always thinking of him. He's been and got himself stolen by some of those London dog-stealers. I shall never see him again, poor fellow."
I barked again. John looked up, and there I stood, only too happy to be able to contradict him. Extraordinary, that knowing me as he did, he should have thought me capable of deserting my best friends and letting myself be enticed away by a dog-stealer! I hoped I had more sense than that.
John said not another word, but rushed up stairs and threw the street-door wide open. In my rapture at meeting him I forgot all ceremony; and standing bolt upright on my hind-legs, with my fore-paws on his shoulders, I licked his face all over. But he was too glad to see me to take offence at my familiarity, and patted my head and returned my caresses with cordiality equal to my own.
At first he did not see my little fellow-traveller, who, in her modest reluctance to be intrusive, held back during the rough greetings between John and me. But in proper time she felt it due to herself to come forward and assert her presence; so, setting her tail bolt upright like a standard, she began pacing softly backwards and forwards, purring affectionately, and rubbing herself against John's legs at every turn.
"Well, Pussy," said John, as he stooped to stroke her head, "it would take a good many human creatures to surprise me as much as you two dumb animals have done. But come in. Come, Captain, my boy; come, little Puss."