"Another cat?" groaned Snip.
"Scratch him," hissed a big grey Tom, but the Tabby Cat merely reached down, and clutching Snip by the front of his jacket, jumped down from the fence.
Her Majesty lay luxuriously under a catsup tree. Ten small kittens fanned her with large leaves and there was a Tabby Cat Guard in every corner of the garden. There was not room for all the other cats, so they ranged themselves expectantly on the surrounding fences, while Mombi, Pajuka and Snip were brought forward. The Queen, a sleek maltese, opened her eyes languidly as they approached, but at sight of Mombi she sprang up so impulsively, she bumped her head on a catsup bottle.
"Why, you dear, beautiful, dreadful old thing!" purred the Queen, clasping her paws delightedly.
"Dear, beautiful, dreadful old thing!" purred all the other cats, waving their tails approvingly.
"You shall stay and bewitch us forever," murmured her Highness, stroking Mombi's wrinkled cheek affectionately. "But who let this boy in?" she screamed furiously, catching a glimpse of Snip.
"Mean, horrid, naughty little wretch, puller of tails and thrower of stones!" Her eyes flashed so threateningly Snip was really alarmed and began to look around for some way to escape.
"He never pulled a cat-tail in his life," blustered Pajuka indignantly, "except in a swamp!"
"In a swamp?" shrieked the Queen. "What right has he to pull cat-tails in a swamp? Who are you?"