1. Pussy came walking along the garden-path. Harry watched her, and saw
that she did not like the damp ground.

2. She jumped over the pools, and then began to run, shaking her paws
as she got to the house.

3. 'Now, a dog does not mind wet feet,' Harry thought; 'he will go into
the water, but Pussy will never go into the water.

4. 'She does not even use water to wash herself. Come here, Pussy! You
don't like to wet your nice fur, do you?'

5. As Harry was always kind to pussy, she let him pick her up and carry
her into the house.

6. He sat down on the rug with her, and stroked her glossy back. One of
her fore-paws rested on his hand, and he began to look at it.

7. 'Here are five toes,' he said, 'but what funny toes they are!' He
gently turned the paw over, and saw the sharp nails drawn in under the
fur.

8. The cat knew that he would not hurt her, so she kept her claws in,
and let him feel them on the outside.

9. He found under the paw a soft smooth pad. 'Now I know how it is that
she can walk so softly!' he said. 'This must help her to walk in that
way.'