Page:History of Whittington and his cat (3).pdf/15

15 Away ran the captain to the ship, while another dinner was providing, and, taking puss under his arm, returned to the hovel, called a palace, in time to see the second dinner meet with the same fate as the first.

The cat, at the sight of them, did not wait for bidding, but sprung from the captain's arm, and in a few moments laid the greatest part of the rats and mice dead at her feet, while the rest, in the greatest fright imaginable, scampered away to their hiding-places. She was then stroked and patted by every one; and the sum given for her is well known to have been immense, if even exaggerated by fame in some small degree.



Her majesty, however, with Puss in her lap, where she had very speedily sung herself fast asleep, appeared lost in thought; the cause of which being inquired into, she said, “That in feeling the past, she could not forbear being alarmed for the future; as there could be little doubt, if the cat died, the offensive animals would renew their old practices, which could not fail exciting tenfold distress and disgust by their having been for some time free from their violence." How agreeable, therefore, must the news be, that the captain could furnish them with a whole family, sufficient, in process of time, to stock the kingdom!

The queen had a tender mind, and having heard the captain (at her own request,) many times repeat poor Whittington's history, his orphan infancy, his friendless state, and his distress at parting from his cat, though for the greatest hoped-for advantage, she told the king, and his majesty was perfectly of the same opinion, that having made them so happy, it was their duty to render him happy also; " therefore," cried she, "tell him to receive back his beloved cat, lest, without that