At first, in the darkness, the Clown could not make out what or who it
was on the shelf in the closet with him. Then, as his eyes became
accustomed to the gloom, he noticed that it was a Cat.

"Oh, are you a toy, too?" asked the Calico Clown politely, for he
wanted company and some one to talk to.

"No, I am not exactly a toy," answered the Cat.

"You look like one," the Clown said. "There was one just like you in
our store, only that cat's head wobbled."

"Well, my head doesn't wobble--it comes off," said the Cat.

"Your head comes off!" cried the Clown in great surprise. "I should
think that would hurt!"

"No, it's made to do that," the Cat explained. "You see I'm a match
safe, and I also have a place inside me where burned matches may be
put. To put them in me you have to lift off my head. It doesn't hurt
at all--I'm used to it."

"Oh, that's different," said the Calico Clown. "Well, I am very glad
to meet you. Do you know the Candy Rabbit?"

The Cat said she did, and very well, too.

"He sleeps here on the closet shelf with me every night," she added.
"You'll see him, pretty soon!"