Page:The Cook's Wedding and Other Stories.djvu/240

 minute later she came in with the descendant of tigers in her arms.

"Capital!" said Pyotr Demyanitch, rubbing his hands. "We will give him a lesson Put him down opposite the mouse- trap that's it  Let him sniff it and look at it That's it"

The kitten looked wonderingly at my uncle, at his arm-chair, sniffed the mouse-trap in bewilderment, then, frightened probably by the glaring lamplight and the attention directed to him, made a dash and ran in terror to the door.

"Stop!" shouted my uncle, seizing him by the tail, "stop, you rascal! He's afraid of a mouse, the idiot! Look! It's a mouse! Look! Well? look, I tell you!"

Pyotr Demyanitch took the kitten by the scruff of the neck and pushed him with his nose against the mouse-trap.

"Look, you carrion! Take him and hold him, Praskovya Hold him opposite the door of the trap When I let the mouse out, you let him go instantly Do you hear? Instantly let go! Now!"

My uncle assumed a mysterious expression and lifted the door of the trap The mouse came out irresolutely, sniffed the air, and flew like an arrow under the sofa The kitten on being released darted under the table with his tail in the air.

"It has got away! got away!" cried Pyotr Demyanitch, looking ferocious. "Where is he, the scoundrel? Under the table? You wait"