“Heavinessmayendureforanight:butjoycomethinthemorning.” Thenextdayfoundmequiteanotherbeing. Eventhememoriesofmylostfriendandcompanionweresunnyasthegenialweatherthatsmiledaroundme. IdidnotventuretotroubleLadyMuriel,orherfather,withanothercallsosoon:buttookawalkintothecountry,andonlyturnedhomewardswhenthelowsunbeamswarnedmethatdaywouldsoonbeover. Onmywayhome,Ipassedthecottagewheretheoldmanlived,whosefacealwaysrecalledtomethedaywhenIfirstmetLadyMuriel;andIglancedinasIpassed,half-curioustoseeifhewerestilllivingthere. Yes:theoldmanwasstillalive.Hewassittingoutintheporch,lookingjustashedidwhenIfirstsawhimatFayfieldJunction—itseemedonlyafewdaysago! “Goodevening!”Isaid,pausing. “Goodevening,Maister!”hecheerfullyresponded.“Wo’n’teestepin?” Isteppedin,andtookaseatonthebenchintheporch. “I’mgladtoseeyoulookingsohearty,”Ibegan. “Lasttime,Iremember,IchancedtopassjustasLadyMurielwascomingawayfromthehouse.Doesshestillcometoseeyou?” “Ees,”heansweredslowly.“Shehasnaforgottenme. Idon’tloseherbonnyfaceformanydaystogether. WellImindtheveryfirsttimeshecome,afterwe’dmetatRailwayStation.Shetoldmeasshecometomak’amends.Dearchild!Onlythinko’that!Tomak’amends!” “Tomakeamendsforwhat?”Ienquired.“Whatcouldshehavedonetoneedit?” “Well,itwereloikethis,yousee?Wewerebothonusa-waitingfurt’trainatt’Junction. AndIhadsetteemysendownupatt’bench. AndStation-Maister,hecomesandheordersmeoff—furt’mak’roomforherLadyship,youunderstand?” “Irememberitall,”Isaid.“Iwastheremyself;thatday.” ”Wasyou,now?Well,an’sheaxesmypardonfur‘t.Thinko’that,now!Mypardon!Anowdne’er-do-weellikeme!Ah!She’sbeenheremanyatime,sin’then. Why,shewereinhereonlyyestere’en,asitwere,a-sittin’,asitmightbe,whereyou’rea-sittingnow,an’lookin’sweeterandkindernoranangel! An’shesays‘You’venotgotyourMinnie,now,’shesays,‘tofettleforye.’ Minniewasmygrand-daughter,Sir,aslivedwi’me. Shedied,amatteroftwomonthsago—oritmaybethree. Shewasabonnylass—andagoodlass,too. Eh,butlifehasbeenrarean’lonelywithouther!” Hecoveredhisfaceinhishands:andIwaitedaminuteortwo,insilence,forhimtorecoverhimself. “Soshesays,‘Justtak’mefuryourMinnie!’shesays.‘DidnaMinniemak’yourteafuryou?’saysshe.‘Ay,’saysI.An’shemak’sthetea.‘An’didnaMinnielightyourpipe?’saysshe. ‘Ay,’saysI.An’shelightsthepipeforme. ‘An’didnaMinniesetoutyourteaint’porch?’ An’Isays‘Mydear,’Isays,‘I’mthinkingyou’reMinniehersen!’An’shecriesabit.Webothonuscriesabit—” AgainIkeptsilenceforawhile. “An’whileIsmokesmypipe,shesitsan’talkstome—aslovingan’aspleasant! I’llbeboundIthowtitwereMinniecomeagain! An’whenshegetsuptogo,Isays‘Winnotyeshak’handswi’me?’ saysI.An’shesays‘Na,’shesays:‘acannotshak’handswi’thee!”shesays.” “I’msorryshesaidthat,”Iputin,thinkingitwastheonlyinstanceIhadeverknownofprideofrankshowingitselfinLadyMuriel. “Blessyou,itwerenapride!”saidtheoldman,readingmythoughts. “Shesays’YourMinnienevershookhandswi’you!’shesays.‘An’I’myourMinnienow,’shesays. An’shejustputsherdeararmsaboutmyneck—andshekissesmeont’cheek—an’mayGodinHeavenblessher!” Andherethepooroldmanbrokedownentirely,andcouldsaynomore. “Godblessher!”Iechoed.“Andgoodnighttoyou!”Ipressedhishand,andlefthim.“LadyMuriel,”IsaidsoftlytomyselfasIwenthomewards,“trulyyouknowhowto‘mak’amends’!” Seatedoncemorebymylonelyfireside,Itriedtorecallthestrangevisionofthenightbefore,andtoconjureupthefaceofthedearoldProfessoramongtheblazingcoals. “Thatblackone—withjustatouchofred—wouldsuithimwell,”Ithought. “Aftersuchacatastrophe,itwouldbesuretobecoveredwithblackstains—andhewouldsay: “Theresultofthatcombination—youmayhavenoticed?—wasanExplosion!ShallIrepeattheExperiment?” “No,no!Don’ttroubleyourself!”wasthegeneralcry.Andwealltroopedoff,inhothaste,totheBanquetingHall,wherethefeasthadalreadybegun. Notimewaslostinhelpingthedishes,andveryspeedilyeveryguestfoundhisplatefilledwithgoodthings. “Ihavealwaysmaintainedtheprinciple,”theProfessorbegan,“thatitisagoodruletotakesomefood—occasionally. Thegreatadvantageofdinner-parties&8221;hebrokeoffsuddenly. “Why,actuallyhere’stheOtherProfessor!”hecried.“Andthere’snoplaceleftforhim!” TheOtherProfessorcameinreadingalargebook,whichheheldclosetohiseyes. Oneresultofhisnotlookingwherehewasgoingwasthathetrippedup,ashecrossedtheSaloon,flewupintotheair,andfellheavilyonhisfaceinthemiddleofthetable. “Whatapity!”criedthekind-heartedProfessor,ashehelpedhimup. “Itwouldn’tbeme,ifIdidn’ttrip,”saidtheOtherProfessor. TheProfessorlookedmuchshocked.“Almostanythingwouldbebetterthanthat!”heexclaimed.“Itneverdoes”,headded,asidetoBruno,“tobeanybodyelse,doesit?” TowhichBrunogravelyreplied“I’sgotnuffinonmyplate.” TheProfessorhastilyputonhisspectacles,tomakesurethatthefactswereallright,tobeginwith:thenheturnedhisjollyroundfaceupontheunfortunateowneroftheemptyplate. “Andwhatwouldyoulikenext,mylittleman?” “Well,”Brunosaid,alittledoubtfully,“IthinkI’lltakesomeplum-pudding,please—whileIthinkofit.” “Oh,Bruno!”(ThiswasawhisperfromSylvie.)“Itisn’tgoodmannerstoaskforadishbeforeitcomes!” AndBrunowhisperedback“ButImightforgettoaskforsome,whenitcomes,ooknow—Idoforgetthings,sometimes,”headded,seeingSylvieabouttowhispermore. AndthisassertionSylviedidnotventuretocontradict. MeanwhileachairhadbeenplacedfortheOtherProfessor,betweentheEmpressandSylvie. Sylviefoundhimaratheruninterestingneighbour:infact,shecouldn’tafterwardsrememberthathehadmademorethanoneremarktoherduringthewholebanquet,andthatwas“WhatacomfortaDictionaryis!” (ShetoldBruno,afterwards,thatshehadbeentoomuchafraidofhimtosaymorethan“Yes,Sir”inreply:andthathadbeentheendoftheirconversation. OnwhichBrunoexpressedaverydecidedopinionthatthatwasn’tworthcallinga“conversation”atall.“Ooshouldhaveaskedhimariddle!”headdedtriumphantly. “Why,IaskedtheProfessorthreeriddles! Onewasthatoneyouaskedmeinthemorning,‘Howmanypenniesisthereintwoshillings?’Andanotherwas&8221;“Oh,Bruno!”Sylvieinterrupted.“Thatwasn’tariddle!”“Itwere!”Brunofiercelyreplied.) BythistimeawaiterhadsuppliedBrunowithaplatefulofsomething,whichdrovetheplum-puddingoutofhishead. “Anotheradvantageofdinner-parties”,theProfessorcheerfullyexplained,forthebenefitofanyonethatwouldlisten,“isthatithelpsyoutoseeyourfriends. Ifyouwanttoseeaman,offerhimsomethingtoeat.It’sthesamerulewithamouse.” “ThisCat’sverykindtotheMouses,”Brunosaid,stoopingtostrokearemarkablyfatspecimenoftherace,thathadjustwaddledintotheroom,andwasrubbingitselfaffectionatelyagainstthelegofhischair. “Please,Sylvie,poursomemilkinyoursaucer.Pussie’seversothirsty!” “Whydoyouwantmysaucer?”saidSylvie.“You’vegotoneyourself!” “Yes,Iknow,”saidBruno:“butIwantedminefortogiveitsomemoremilkin.” Sylvielookedunconvinced:howeveritseemedquiteimpossibleforherevertorefusewhatherbrotheraskedsoshequietlyfilledhersaucerwithmilk,andhandedittoBruno,whogotdownoffhischairtoadministerittothecat. “Theroom’sveryhot,withallthiscrowd,”theProfessorsaidtoSylvie. “Iwonderwhytheydon’tputsomelumpsoficeinthegrate? Youfillitwithlumpsofcoalinthewinter,youknow,andyousitarounditandenjoythewarmth. Howjollyitwouldbetofillitnowwithlumpsofice,andsitrounditandenjoythecoolth!” Hotasitwas,Sylvieshiveredalittleattheidea.“It’sverycoldoutside,”shesaid.“Myfeetgotalmostfrozento-day.” “That’stheshoemaker’sfault!”theProfessorcheerfullyreplied. “HowoftenI’veexplainedtohimthatheoughttomakebootswithlittleironframesunderthesolestoholdlamps!Butheneverthinks. Noonewouldsufferfromcold,ifonlytheywouldthinkofthoselittlethings. Ialwaysusehotink,myself,inthewinter.Veryfewpeopleeverthinkofthat!Yethowsimpleitis!” “Yes,it’sverysimple,”Sylviesaidpolitely.“Hasthecathadenough?”ThiswastoBruno,whohadbroughtbackthesauceronlyhalf-emptied. ButBrunodidnothearthequestion.“There’ssomebodyscratchingatthedoorandwantingtocomein,”hesaid. Andhescrambleddownoffhischair,andwentandcautiouslypeepedoutthroughthedoor-way. “Whowasitwantedtocomein?”Sylvieasked,ashereturnedtohisplace. “ItwereaMouse,”saidBruno.“Anditpeeptedin.AnditsawtheCat.Anditsaid‘I’llcomeinanotherday.’AndIsaid‘Ooneedn’tbeflightened.TheCat’swellykindtoMouses.’ Anditsaid‘ButI’sgotsomeimporkantbusiness,whatImustattendto.’ Anditsaid‘I’llcallagainto-morrow.’ Anditsaid‘GivemylovetotheCat.’” “Whatafatcatitis!”saidtheLordChancellor,leaningacrosstheProfessortoaddresshissmallneighbour.“It’squiteawonder!” “Itwasawfullyfatwhenitcamedin,”saidBruno:“soitwouldbemorewonderfullerifitgotthinallinaminute.” “Andthatwasthereason,Isuppose,”theLordChancellorsuggested,“whyyoudidn’tgiveittherestofthemilk?” “No,”saidBruno.“Itwasabettererreason.Itookedthesaucerup‘causeitweresodiscontented!” “Itdoesn’tlooksotome,”saidtheLordChancellor.“Whatmadeyouthinkitwasdiscontented?” “‘Causeitgrumbledinitsthroat.” “Oh,Bruno!”criedSylvie.“Why,that’sthewaycatsshowthey’repleased!” Brunolookeddoubtful.“It’snotagoodway,”heobjected.“Oowouldn’tsayIwerepleased,ifImadethatnoiseinmythroat!” “Whatasingularboy!”theLordChancellorwhisperedtohimself:butBrunohadcaughtthewords. “Whatdoitmeantosay‘asingularboy’?”hewhisperedtoSylvie. “Itmeansoneboy,”Sylviewhisperedinreturn.“Andpluralmeanstwoorthree.” “ThenI’swellygladIisasingularboy!”Brunosaidwithgreatemphasis.“Itwouldbehorridtobetwoorthreeboys!P’rapstheywouldn’tplaywithme!” “Whyshouldthey?”saidtheOtherProfessor,suddenlywakingupoutofadeepreverie.“Theymightbeasleep,youknow.” “Couldn’t,ifIwasawake,”Brunosaidcunningly. “Oh,buttheymightindeed!”theOtherProfessorprotested.“Boysdon’tallgotosleepatonce,youknow.Sotheseboys—butwhoareyoutalkingabout?” “Heneverrememberstoaskthatfirst!”theProfessorwhisperedtothechildren. “Why,therestofme,a-course!”Brunoexclaimedtriumphantly.“SupposingIwastwoorthreeboys!” TheOtherProfessorsighed,andseemedtobesinkingbackintohisreverie;butsuddenlybrightenedupagain,andaddressedtheProfessor.“There’snothingmoretobedonenow,isthere?” “Well,there’sthedinnertofinish,”theProfessorsaidwithabewilderedsmile:“andtheheattobear. Ihopeyou’llenjoythedinner—suchasitis;andthatyouwo’n’tmindtheheat—suchasitisn’t.” Thesentencesoundedwell,butsomehowIcouldn’tquiteunderstandit;andtheOtherProfessorseemedtobenobetteroff.“Suchasitisn’twhat?”hepeevishlyenquired. “Itisn’tashotasitmightbe,”theProfessorreplied,catchingatthefirstideathatcametohand. “Ah,Iseewhatyoumeannow!”theOtherProfessorgraciouslyremarked. “It’sverybadlyexpressed,butIquiteseeitnow! Thirteenminutesandahalfago,”hewenton,lookingfirstatBrunoandthenathiswatchashespoke,“yousaid‘thisCat’sverykindtotheMouses.’Itmustbeasingularanimal!” “Soitare,”saidBruno,aftercarefullyexaminingtheCat,tomakesurehowmanytherewereofit. “Buthowdoyouknowit’skindtotheMouses—or,morecorrectlyspeaking,theMice?” “‘CauseitplayswiththeMouses,”saidBruno;“fortoamusethem,ooknow.” “ButthatisjustwhatIdon’tknow,”theOtherProfessorrejoined.“Mybeliefis,itplayswiththemtokillthem!” “Oh,that’squiteaaccident!”Brunobegan,soeagerly,thatitwasevidenthehadalreadypropoundedthisverydifficultytotheCat. “It‘sprainedallthattome,whileitweredrinkingthemilk. Itsaid‘IteachestheMousesnewgames:theMouseslikesiteversomuch.’ Itsaid‘Sometimeslittleaccidentshappens:sometimestheMouseskillsthemselves.’ Itsaid‘I’salwayswellysorry,whentheMouseskillstheirselves.’Itsaid—” “Ifitwassoverysorry,”Sylviesaid,ratherdisdainfully,“itwouldn’teattheMousesafterthey’dkilledthemselves!” Butthisdifficulty,also,hadevidentlynotbeenlostsightofintheexhaustiveethicaldiscussionjustconcluded. “Itsaid”(theoratorconstantlyomitted,assuperfluous,hisownshareinthedialogue,andmerelygaveustherepliesoftheCat)“Itsaid‘DeadMousesneverobjeckstobeeaten.’ Itsaid‘There’snousewastinggoodMouses.’Itsaid‘Wifful—’sumfinoruvver. Itsaid‘Andoomaylivetosay“HowmuchIwissIhadtheMousethatthenIfrewaway!”‘Itsaid— “Ithadn’ttimetosaysuchalotofthings!”Sylvieinterruptedindignantly. “Oodoesn’tknowhowCatsspeaks!”Brunorejoinedcontemptuously.“Catsspeakswellyquick!” 
