"Why don't you get a cat?"
"Oh—I—I did have—a cat and—and the rats eat 'er up."
"Boo-hoo. Will they eat us up too?"
"Ah—no—they won't eat you. You ain't got enough meat on you. Besides I got 'em all screened off with a wire. They can't get at ye. See here—Ef yer goin' ter be afraid, take hold er my hand an' I'll lay down long side o' yer and go ter sleep—Now I fergot ter tell you gentlemen that when ye wake up—I'll be gone, fer business calls me early, but ye're to make this yer home jes' as long as yer wants ter and come here jes' whenever yer wants ter. Now fer the last time—good-night!"
FOOTNOTE:
[69] A dramatization from "Les Misérables," by Lucy Dean Jenkins.