So she took all the cats, and placed them, in the order of their
appearance, in a recess on one side of the room. There were picture
cat, rag cat, China cats, ark cats, yowling cats, bronze cat.

The next morning was New Year's Day. The young lady passed it in
quiet. No cats invaded her repose. She began to think the eruption
of cats was beginning to subside. Vain hope! Her tormentor was busy
enough.

On Sunday evening, he arrived at our house in the country. He came
to spend the night.

"My dear E.," said he to me, "you must lend me a cat. I have sent
Miss Mary--every kind of cat except a live one, and now I must send
that too. I am going to make you dress up your favorite blue
kitten."

At first, I refused; but, on his promise that the kitten should be
treated with the greatest care and consideration, I agreed. I made
her a gown of yellow satin coming down over her legs. The tail went
through the gown and helped to keep it on. That tail was the
gaudiest part of all, being wound with gold lace, and bearing at the
tip a gay, flourishing bow. I made for pussy beautiful pettiloons of
dark-red glazed cambric, and shod her with black morocco boots. Her
cap was made of paste-board, tall and peaked, trimmed with gay
ribbons, and surmounted by a cock's feather. A coral necklace with a
locket was put about her neck; and then poor pussy was complete, and
shone in her whole brilliancy Her patience was a shining example.
Not a mew nor a growl at all the often-repeated fittings and tryings
on. She purred kindly all the time.