my head down on my paws to watch my
little protegee quietly, in hopes of enticing her from her fortress.

This last insinuating attitude decided her. She gently placed first one
little white paw, and then another, on projecting ornaments of the
bookcase, one step on the lion, and the next on the unicorn; and without
hurting either herself or the delicate carved work which she chose to
use as her staircase, she alighted harmless and unharmed within my
reach. Then she mewed once more; but that was her last expression of
doubt or dread. I soon reassured her; and that moment was the first of a
confidence and intimacy seldom seen between our uncongenial races.

We had now, in our way, a long conversation, during which we became
pretty well acquainted with each other's dispositions; and in due time
we descended the stairs together in perfect amity; I gravely walked step
by step, and looking up benignly at the gambols of little Pussy, who,
now in high spirits, had no idea of coming down in a regular way, but
must scramble up the banisters, hang by her claws from the hand-rail,
recover herself instantaneously when within an inch of falling headlong
into the hall, and play a hundred other wild tricks. A short time
before, I should have thought all this a most despicable waste of time
and strength; but now I could see that it did her good and made her
happy, and I looked on rather with approbation.

I shall never forget the surprise of the gardener's wife when Puss and I
entered the kitchen side by side. She screamed as if we had been a
couple of wild beasts.

"Oh," cried she, "there's that poor little kitten just under Captain's
nose! He'll be the death of her. What shall I do?"

She seized a broom, and held it between us, ready to beat me if I
ventured to attack the kitten. But I wagged my tail, and Puss jumped
over the broomstick.

"Well to be sure!" said Mrs. Gardener, letting fall the broom, and
holding up her hands; "did any body ever see the like of that!"

She placed a saucer of milk on the floor, and I sat quietly and let the
kitten drink it. The kitten herself was a little surprised at this, and
hesitated before beginning, not knowing exactly what it might be proper
for her to do; indeed, I could scarcely expect her to understand the
etiquette of so unusual a circumstance; but she had a great deal of
tact, and soon perceived that I wished her to go on naturally; so she
began lapping, though looking round at me be