“Because she wants to,” said my brother bluntly.
“No reason at all,” replied my father promptly. “Rather a reason for her to stay at home. The young of any creature invariably wish to do what is not good for them.”
“Father,” said Jimmy Dory in a sudden rage, “you don't want to hear arguments for her going. You only want to hear arguments for her staying.”
“Hush! my son,” replied our parent authoritatively. “My eldest daughter will now state clearly and succinctly her reasons, or rather her views, on the subject of this far-away and doubtful trip for Black-Face.”
CHAPTER VIII
SERENA ASTONISHES US
Serena stood up. She was addressing the audience, and her imaginary glasses were more in evidence than ever.
“Mr. Chairman, and ladies and gentlemen,” she said with a slightly scornful dwelling on “gentlemen,” as she turned for an instant toward Jimmy Dory, “the subject before us, as I look at it, is this. The family is a sacred, collective body of persons, or cats, who live in one house, and under one head or manager,” and she gracefully bowed to our father. “Now, has one member of this body a right to violently and arrogantly detach itself, without the consent of the others?”
“Yes, it has,” grumbled Jimmy Dory under his breath. “Oh, meow! meow! Come off the roof, pussy, and talk sense.”
I don't think Serena heard him, for she drew a long breath and went on.
“If such a thing should happen, that one member of this sacred, collective body should wish to withdraw, or form outside connections of its own, methinks it would be most compatible with reason for that member to be one of the older members of this same sacred family.”