Now not far from the music master's house there dwelt a lady who
possessed a most lovely little pussy cat called Koma. She was
such a little dear altogether, and blinked her eyes so daintily,
and ate her supper so tidily, and when she had finished she
licked her pink nose so delicately with her little tongue, that
her mistress was never tired of saying, 'Koma, Koma, what should
I do without you?'

Well, it happened one day that these two, when out for an evening
stroll, met under a cherry tree, and in one moment fell madly in
love with each other. Gon had long felt that it was time for him
to find a wife, for all the ladies in the neighbourhood paid him
so much attention that it made him quite shy; but he was not easy
to please, and did not care about any of them. Now, before he had
time to think, Cupid had entangled him in his net, and he was
filled with love towards Koma. She fully returned his passion,
but, like a woman, she saw the difficulties in the way, and
consulted sadly with Gon as to the means of overcoming them. Gon
entreated his master to set matters right by buying Koma, but her
mistress would not part from her. Then the music master was asked
to sell Gon to the lady, but he declined to listen to any such
suggestion, so everything remained as before.

At length the love of the couple grew to such a pitch that they
determined to please themselves, and to seek their fortunes
together. So one moonlight night they stole away, and ventured
out into an unknown world. All day long they marched bravely on
through the sunshine, till they had left their homes far behind
them, and towards evening they found themselves in a large park.
The wanderers by this time were very hot and tired, and the grass