I turned the
matter over in my mind for a day or two, and then determined to give him
a trial. Being a lonely sort of man, he might make a fuss over me, and
if not I could go.
"'My surmise proved correct. I have never been more petted than I was by
"Toady," as the village boys had dubbed him. My present guardian is
foolish enough over me, goodness knows, but she has other ties, while
"Toady" had nothing else to love, not even himself. He could hardly
believe his eyes at first when I jumped up on his knees and rubbed myself
against his ugly face. "Why, Kitty," he said, "do you know you're the
first living thing that has ever come to me of its own accord." There
were tears in his funny little red eyes as he said that.
"'I remained two years with "Toady," and was very happy indeed. Then he
fell ill, and strange people came to the house, and I was neglected.
"Toady" liked me to come up and lie upon the bed, where he could stroke
me with his long, thin hand, and at first I used to do this. But a sick
man is not the best of company, as you can imagine, and the atmosphere of
a sick room not too healthy, so, all things considered, I felt it was
time for me to make a fresh move.
"'I had some difficulty in getting away. "Toady" was always asking for
me, and they tried to keep me with him: he seemed to lie easier when I
was there.
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