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Malee's compliments； sah。 De Royal Analostan had recurred in her
recent proprietor's vicinity and residence； sah。 Mr。 Malee had
pleasure in recuperating the Royal Analostan； sah。〃 Of course Mr。
Malee could not be rewarded； but the butler was open to any
offer； and plainly showed that he expected the promised reward
and something more。
Kitty was guarded very carefully after that； but so far from
being disgusted with the old life of starving； and glad of her
ease； she became wilder and more dissatisfied。
VIII
The spring was doing its New York best。 The dirty little English
Sparrows were tumbling over each other in their gutter brawls；
Cats yowled all night in the areas； and the Fifth Avenue family
were thinking of their country residence。 They packed up； closed
house and moved off to their summer home； some fifty miles away；
and Pussy； in a basket； went with them。
〃Just what she needed： a change of air and scene to wean her away
from her former owners and make her happy。〃
The basket was lifted into a Rumble…shaker。 New sounds and
passing smells were entered and left。 A turn in the course was
made。 Then a roaring of many feet； more swinging of the basket； a
short pause； another change of direction； then some clicks； some
bangs； a long shrill whistle； and door…bells of a very big front
door； a rumbling； a whizzing； an unpleasant smell； a hideous
smell； a growing horrible； hateful choking smell； a deadly；
griping； poisonous stench； with roaring that drowned poor Kitty's
yowls； and just as it neared the point where endurance ceased；
there was relief。 She heard clicks and clacks。 There was light；
there was air。 Then a man's voice called； 〃All out for 125th
Street；〃 though of course to Kitty it was a mere human bellow。
The roaring almost ceaseddid cease。 Later the rackety…bang was
renewed with plenty of sounds and shakes； though not the
poisonous gas； a long； hollow； booming roar with a pleasant dock
smell was quickly passed； and then there was a succession of
jolts； roars； jars； stops； clicks； clacks； smells； jumps； shakes；
more smells； more shakes；big shakes； little shakes；gases；
smokes； screeches； door…bells； tremblings； roars； thunders； and
some new smells； raps； taps； heavings； rumblings； and more
smells； but all without any of the feel that the direction is
changed。 When at last it stopped； the sun came twinkling through
the basket…lid。 The Royal Cat was lifted into a Rumble…shaker of
the old familiar style； and； swerving aside from their past
course； very soon the noises of its wheels were grittings and
rattlings； a new and horrible sound was addedthe barking of
Dogs； big and little and dreadfully close。 The basket was lifted；
and Slum Kitty had reached her country home。
Every one was officiously kind。 They wanted to please the Royal
Cat； but somehow none of them did； except； possibly； the big； fat
cook that Kitty discovered on wandering into the kitchen。 This
unctuous person smelt more like a slum than anything she had met
for months； and the Royal Analostan was proportionately
attracted。 The cook； when she learned that fears were entertained
about the Cat staying； said： 〃Shure； she'd 'tind to thot； wanst a
Cat licks her futs； shure she's at home。〃 So she deftly caught
the unapproachable royalty in her apron； and committed the
horrible sacrilege of greasing the soles of her feet with
pot…grease。 Of course Kitty resented itshe resented everything
in the place； but on being set down she began to dress her paws
and found evident satisfaction in that grease。 She licked all
four feet for an hour； and the cook triumphantly announced that
now 〃shure she'd be apt to shtay。〃 And stay she did； but she
showed a most surprising and disgusting preference for the
kitchen； the cook； and the garbage…pail。
The family； though distressed by these distinguished
peculiarities； were glad to see the Royal Analostan more
contented and approachable。 They gave her more liberty after a
week or two。 They guarded her from every menace。 The Dogs were
taught to respect her。 No man or boy about the place would have
dreamed of throwing a stone at the famous pedigreed Cat。 She had
all the food she wanted； but still she was not happy。 She was
hankering for many things； she scarcely knew what。 She had
everythingyes； but she wanted something else。 Plenty to eat and
drinkyes； but milk does not taste the same when you can go and
drink all you want from a saucer； it has to be stolen out of a
tin pail when you are belly…pinched with hunger and thirst； or it
does not have the tangit isn't milk。
Yes； there was a junk…yard back of the house and beside it and
around it too； a big one； but it was everywhere poisoned and
polluted with roses。 The very Horses and Dogs had the wrong
smells； the whole country round was a repellent desert of
lifeless； disgusting gardens and hay…fields； without a single
tenement or smoke…stack in sight。 How she did hate it all！ There
was only one sweet…smelling shrub in the whole horrible place；
and that was in a neglected corner。 She did enjoy nipping that
and rolling in the leaves； it was a bright spot in the grounds；
but the only one； for she had not found a rotten fish…head nor
seen a genuine garbage…can since she came； and altogether it was
the most unlovely； unattractive； unsmellable spot she had ever
known。 She would surely have gone that first night had she had
the liberty。 The liberty was weeks in coming； and； meanwhile； her
affinity with the cook had developed as a bond to keep her； but
one day after a summer of discontent a succession of things
happened to stir anew the slum instinct of the royal prisoner。
A great bundle of stuff from the docks had reached the country
mansion。 What it contained was of little moment； but it was rich
with a score of the most piquant and winsome of dock and slum
smells。 The chords of memory surely dwell in the nose； and
Pussy's past was conjured up with dangerous force。 Next day the
cook 'left' through some trouble over this very bundle。 It was
the cutting of cables； and that evening the youngest boy of the
house； a horrid little American with no proper appreciation of
royalty； was tying a tin to the blue…blooded one's tail；
doubtless in furtherance of some altruistic project； when Pussy
resented the liberty with a paw that wore five big fish…hooks for
the occasion。 The howl of downtrodden America roused America's
mother。 The deft and womanly blow that she aimed with her book
was miraculously avoided； and Pussy took flight； up…stairs； of
course。 A hunted Rat runs down…stairs； a hunted Dog goes on the
level； a hunted Cat runs up。 She hid in the garret； baffled
discovery； and waited till night came。 Then； gliding down…stairs；
she tried each screen…door in turn； till she found one unlatched；
and escaped into the black August night。 Pitch…black to man's
eyes； it was simply gray to her； and she glided through the
disgusting shrubbery and flower…beds； took a final nip at that
one little bush that had been an attractive spot in the garden；
and boldly took her back track of the spring。
How could she take a back track that she never saw？ There is in
all animals some sense of direc