“Maul first, and ask questions afterward,” said Blizzard, “that's my motto. Strangers ought to stay at home.”
“But you would put a stop to travel, and improvement of the mind,” replied Serena sweetly.
“Madam,” and he bowed low, “if all strangers were like you, but they are not—and anyway, my own neighborhood is good enough for me. I don't want to travel.”
“I dislike to criticise your words,” remarked Serena politely, “but it seems to me they are just a little narrow-minded. We learn much by our contact with our fellow cats in foreign places.”
Blizzard smiled sweetly, and showed a set of very bad teeth. “In time, I dare say you will bring me over to your opinion. At present, I should like to have a little further conversation with you. Will you walk with me and Rosy?”
All this time, he had never noticed Slyboots and me, beyond throwing us one shrewd glance. He saw that we did not approve of him, and he would not be bothered with us. His present plan was to get Serena out of our reach, so he could fool her to his heart's content.
“Don't go with them, Serena,” and I stepped up, and whispered in her ear.
She tossed her head, then sauntered along with Blizzard and Rosy.
Joker followed them, grinning from ear to ear, and Slyboots and I returned slowly to the house.
The farmer's wife gave us a good breakfast, then we lay out on the veranda in the sun. When an hour had passed, after the Denvilles had had their breakfast, Serena and Joker reappeared. Serena was laughing and talking excitedly, and shaking her head, and seemed to be in high good humor with herself and all the cat world.