from which he puffed great clouds of smoke.

He came up beside Puss, and said, without removing his pipe: "Stuff and
nonsense! We don't talk so stupidly in our village. Don't waste your
time in silly yarns, but let's settle this fight at once."

Puss turned away and, addressing Carry, said:

"Mademoiselle, this plebeian does not understand the language of court
circles, to which I have been used for many years. Mademoiselle will
pardon his ignorance." And here Puss rolled up his eyes and placed his
hand upon his heart and bowed so low that he was actually standing on
his head before he had finished. But he turned a graceful somersault and
came right side up again in half a second, without looking at all
disturbed.

"Sir!" said the dog, with dignity, "this matter should be settled at
once, or the sun will be out, and then----" he stopped short and winked
at Puss in a very knowing manner.

"Ah! that is true," replied the cat, "I had forgotten. Shall it be a
general or a single combat?"

"Well," said the dog, gravely, sitting down on a large flower-pot
nearby, "I think, as we have been wanting to fight this out for some
time,--indeed, I may say, almost since time began,--we had better allow
every one to have a tooth and a claw in it. Then, perhaps, this matter
will be settled forever."

"Quite my opinion," responded Puss. "But first the ladies, infants, and