Great was the confusion of the guests, when at that instant, Thomas the footman, happening to observe that one of the shutters was not quite closed, opened it, when out leaped Old Tom, and dashed past the bride out of the room.
The bride heaved a deep sigh, and declared herself perfectly well able to return to the table.
Old Tom was however, once, not only where he should not have been, but he rendered a great service to the family.
One night after going to rest, Aunt Deborah was aroused by hearing Old Tom mewing at the door.
"There's Tom as usual where he should not be," said Aunt Deborah to herself; for Tom ought to have been asleep in his basket in the housekeeper's room.
Still Tom went on "Mew, mew, mew," till my aunt, losing patience, got up as rapidly as her rheumatism would let her, and opened the door, intending to order Tom back to his bed.
No sooner did Tom see her, than he bounded towards her, mewing strangely and circling round and round her legs. Thinking that Tom wished to remain, she closed the door, supposing that having gained his object, he would be quiet. Instead of that, he continued to mew louder than ever, and moving round my aunt and then to the door, as if to persuade her to open it. This at last she did, supposing even then that old Tom only wished to be let out again. However, when she stood in the room with the door open, and still did not move, Tom, instead of going away, came back again mewing as before, and circling round her.
At length, it struck the old lady that the cat must have some motive in thus arousing her at that untimely hour, and putting on her thick flannel petticoat and dressing gown, with a shawl over her head, she prepared to follow Tom.
As she got outside the room, she heard a peculiar noise. She stopped to listen. She had no doubt about it, some persons were attempting to force an entrance.
"Burglars," she said to herself.