My mother and father and Jimmy Dory gazed curiously at little Mary, but they did not get up to speak to her. They cared nothing for her. Mrs. Darley was their mistress, and their eyes rested lovingly on her—but Serena went up and smelt the rich fur on her coat.
“Cats are very comfortable creatures,” said my little mistress, fondling me. “They don't worry us, and they creep up to us when we are in trouble.”
My dear little mistress—how could I run away from her—and to-day, as she was about to leave Mrs. Darley's, I nestled very closely in her arms.
“Good-bye, pussies,” she said politely to the window-seat—“Good-bye, Mrs. Darley—and now, Black-Face, we must get out in the sunshine, or nurse will be impatient.”
I mewed apologetically to my family. My mother's eyes rested on me, followed me down-stairs, were fixed on me through the window as I was taken into the carriage. They are very speaking eyes. She didn't want me to leave her. She was telling me to take care of myself, to be cautious with the dogs, to come soon again to see her. Oh, I read a great deal in those eyes!
Mother cats must suffer a good deal.
After we left Mrs. Darley's this morning, Mary and I had a lovely drive. Then we came home for lunch, and had lessons in the afternoon.
Mary was considerably worried about the cat on the Common. This afternoon there was a sharp wind, and when Mary saw her come out toward dusk, and go skulking from tree to tree as her habit is, she got one of the maids to go out with some food in a basket.
The poor cat ran like the wind, and Mary's face fell. No one can catch her. There would be no use in sending the good agent after her who caught me, for we would not know where to tell him to go.
I made up my mind what I would do when I saw how my little mistress was grieved. I would get that cat for her. So this evening after dinner, when Mary went into the library to have a little chat with her papa, I slipped out in the hall. If I could get out through that big hall door I would be able to run out on the Common. I hid behind a curtain and waited. Soon a ring came at the door bell.