Page:Henry rideout--The siamese cat.djvu/78

 beside Miss Holborow, in the attitude of a sleepy Royal Bengal.

"The guide's frightened me about him," she answered. "He says we mustn't let him out of our sight here, he'd be snapped up so quickly; and he says the pawnbroker may try to have him stolen: it's his regular trick, to sell him again."

"What 'he,' and what 'him'?" demanded Mrs. Holborow, acutely. The same white topi that made the niece a young Pallas helmeted, made the aunt a grimly sporting zenana missionary. "That's quite the most careless and confused speech I've ever heard, even from you, my dear."

"Now don't pretend, Aunt Julia," said Laura mischievously. "Of course, one he is my big dear" (she hugged the seal-brown head) "and the other is—yours."