I will just crawl under the bed and ask her.
“Please, stranger, have you any disease?”
“No,” she says grumpily, “I haven't been living with humans for a year.”
“That is all right,” and now I think of it I have never smelt any sickness about her. She is only thin and dirty. “Good night, pussy stranger. I hope you will sleep well.”
She doesn't hear me. Perhaps she has already dropped off. Oh! I wonder what dear little Mary will say to her, and how I shall introduce them.
CHAPTER VI
MY FIRST FIGHT
Aren't things queer in this world? It seems as if cats can't plan ahead very much.
All night I dreamed of the poor Common cat. This morning when I woke up I began to worry about introducing her to little Mary. My head ached with the effort. I have never had any business to do in my life. My parents have always done everything for me. Actually, I have been started in the world with about only one instruction from my mother, and that is not to lie. Perhaps it is as good an equipment for the battle of life as a little cat could have. I don't know. I suppose I shall find out.
Well, I must bring my Common cat story up to date in my mind. I have been utterly astonished and confounded by her actions. Let me think over what happened this morning.
I woke up early. I find that a care in a cat's mind will send her to sleep late, and wake her up betimes. I had to think about getting my friend's breakfast before any one was astir, for I supposed she would be too terrified to come from under the bed.