appeared to be fond of me, though you didn't know that I wasn't
going to kill you. Now, that was brave, that was bold, and very
jolly, old boy, and I love you for it - I do!"

Again there was a pause of a few minutes, during which the cat
looked placid, and Peterkin dropped his eyes upon its toes as if in
contemplation. Suddenly he looked up.

"Well, cat, what are you thinking about now? won't speak? eh? Now,
tell me; don't you think it's a monstrous shame that these two
scoundrels, Jack and Ralph, should keep us waiting for our supper
so long?"

Here the cat arose, put up its back and stretched itself; yawned
slightly, and licked the point of Peterkin's nose!

"Just so, old boy, you're a clever fellow, - I really do believe
the brute understands me!" said Peterkin, while a broad grin
overspread his face, as he drew back and surveyed the cat.

At this point Jack burst into a loud fit of laughter. The cat
uttered an angry fuff and fled, while Peterkin sprang up and
exclaimed, -

"Bad luck to you, Jack! you've nearly made the heart jump out of my
body, you have."

"Perhaps I have," replied Jack, laughing, as we entered the bower,
"but, as I don't intend to keep you or the cat any longer from your
supper, I hope that you'll both forgive me."