She took him in, introduced him to her mother, and ran off in
search of the cat, returning in a few minutes with a very
playful-looking tabby.

"There he is," she said, putting the kitten on the table with an
air of pride. "I don't believe he has an equal in all London.

"What do you call him?" asked Brian.

"His name is St. Anthony," said Erica. "Oh, I hope, by the bye,
you won't object to that; it was no disrespect to St. Anthony at
all, but only that he always will go and preach to my gold fish.
We'll make him do it now to show you. Come along Tony, and give
them a sermon, there's a good little kit!"

She put him on a side table, and he at once rested his front paws
on a large glass bowl and peered down at the gold fish with great
curiosity.

"I believe he would have drowned himself sooner or later, like
Gray's cat, so I dare say it is a good thing for him to leave. You
will be kind to him, won't you?"

Brian promised that he should be well attended to, and, indeed
there was little doubt that St. Anthony would from that day forth
be lapped in luxury. He went away with his new master very
contentedly, Erica following them to the door with farewell
injunctions.

"And you'll be sure to butter his feet well or else he won't stay