第 4 节
作者:
漂亮格子 更新:2021-04-30 16:08 字数:9321
exhibit; inly trembling to think what the gorgeous gathering of
fashion would say if they discovered the trick he was playing on
them。 He had passed all around the outer aisles and seen many
prize…winners; but no sign of Slum Kitty。 The inner aisles were
more crowded。 He picked his way down them; but still no Kitty;
and he decided that it was a mistake; the judges had rejected the
Cat later。 Never mind; he had his exhibitor's ticket; and now
knew where several valuable Persians and Angoras were to be
found。
In the middle of the centre aisle were the high…class Cats。 A
great throng was there。 The passage was roped; and two policemen
were in place to keep the crowd moving。 Jap wriggled in among
them; he was too short to see over; and though the richly gowned
folks shrunk from his shabby old clothes; he could not get near;
but he gathered from the remarks that the gem of the show was
there。
〃Oh; isn't she a beauty!〃 said one tall woman。
〃What distinction!〃 was the reply。
〃One cannot mistake the air that comes only from ages of the most
refined surroundings。〃
〃How I should like to own that superb creature!〃
〃Such dignitysuch repose!〃
〃She has an authentic pedigree nearly back to the Pharaohs; I
hear〃; and poor; dirty little Jap marvelled at his own cheek in
sending his Slum Cat into such company。
〃Excuse me; madame。〃 The director of the show now appeared;
edging his way through the crowd。 〃The artist of the'sporting
Element' is here; under orders to sketch the 'pearl of the show'
for immediate use。 May I ask you to stand a little aside? That's
it; thank you。
〃Oh; Mr。 Director; cannot you persuade him to sell that beautiful
creature?〃
〃Hm; I don't know;〃 was the reply。 〃I understand he is a man of
ample means and
not at all approachable; but I'11 try; I'll try; madame。 He was
quite unwilling to exhibit his treasure at all; so I understand
from his butler。 Here; you; keep out of the way;〃 growled the
director; as the shabby little man eagerly pushed between the
artist and the blue…blooded Cat。 But the disreputable one wanted
to know where valuable Cats were to be found。 He came near enough
to get a glimpse of the cage; and there read a placard which
announced that 〃The blue ribbon and gold medal of the
Knickerbocker High Society Cat and Pet Show〃 had been awarded to
the 〃thoroughbred; pedigreed Royal Analostan; imported and
exhibited by J。 Malee; Esq。; the well…known fancier。 (Not for
sale。)〃 Jap caught his breath and stared again。 Yes; surely;
there; high in a gilded cage; on velvet cushions; with four
policemen for guards; her fur bright black and pale gray; her
bluish eyes slightly closed; was his Slum Kitty; looking the
picture of a Cat bored to death with a lot of fuss that she likes
as little as she understands it。
VII
Jap Malee lingered around that cage; taking in the remarks; for
hoursdrinking a draught of glory such as he had never known in
life before and rarely glimpsed in his dreams。 But he saw that it
would be wise for him to remain unknown; his 〃butler〃 must do all
the business。
It was Slum Kitty who made that show a success。 Each day her
value went up in her owner's eyes。 He did not know what prices
had been given for Cats; and thought that he was touching a
record pitch when his 〃butler〃 gave the director authority to
sell the Analostan for one hundred dollars。
This is how it came about that the Slum Cat found herself
transferred from the show to a Fifth Avenue mansion。 She evinced
a most unaccountable wildness at first。 Her objection to petting;
however; was explained on the ground of her aristocratic dislike
of familiarity。 Her retreat from the Lap…dog onto the centre of
the dinner…table was understood to express a deep…rooted though
mistaken idea of avoiding a defiling touch。 Her assaults on a pet
Canary were condoned for the reason that in her native Orient she
had been used to despotic example。 The patrician way in which she
would get the cover off a milk…can was especially applauded。 Her
dislike of her silk…lined basket; and her frequent dashes against
the plate…glass windows; were easily understood: the basket was
too plain; and plate…glass was not used in her royal home。 Her
spotting of the carpet evidenced her Eastern modes of thought。
The failure of her several attempts to catch Sparrows in the
high…walled back yard was new proof of the royal impotency of her
bringing up; while her frequent wallowings in the garbage…can
were understood to be the manifestation of a little pardonable
high…born eccentricity。 She was fed and pampered; shown and
praised; but she was not happy。 Kitty was homesick! She clawed at
that blue ribbon round her neck till she got it off; she jumped
against the plate…glass because that seemed the road to outside;
she avoided people and Dogs because they had always proved
hostile and cruel; and she would sit and gaze on the roofs and
back yards at the other side of the window; wishing she could be
among them for a change。
But she was strictly watched; was never allowed outsideso that
all the happy garbage…can moments occurred while these
receptacles of joy were indoors。 One night in March; however; as
they were set out a…row for the early scavenger; the Royal
Analostan saw her chance; slipped out of the door; and was lost
to view。
Of course there was a grand stir; but Pussy neither knew nor
cared anything about thather one thought was to go home。 It may
have been chance that took her back in the direction of Gramercy
Grange Hill; but she did arrive there after sundry small
adventures。 And now what? She was not at home; and she had cut
off her living。 She was beginning to be hungry; and yet she had a
peculiar sense of happiness。 She cowered in a front garden for
some time。 A raw east wind had been rising; and now it came to
her with a particularly friendly message; man would have called
it an unpleasant smell of the docks; but to Pussy it was welcome
tidings from home。 She trotted down the long Street due east;
threading the rails of front gardens; stopping like a statue for
an instant; or crossing the street in search of the darkest side;
and came at length to the docks and to the water。 But the place
was strange。 She could go north or south。 Something turned her
southward; and; dodging among docks and Dogs; carts and Cats;
crooked arms of the bay and straight board fences; she got; in an
hour or two; among familiar scenes and smells; and; before the
sun came up; she had crawled back …weary and foot…sore through
the same old hole in the same old fence and over a wall to her
junk…yard back of the bird…cellaryes; back into the very
cracker…box where she was born。
Oh; if the Fifth Avenue family could only have seen her in her
native Orient!
After a long rest she came quietly down from the cracker…box
toward the steps leading to the cellar; engaged in her old…time
pursuit of seeking for eatables。 The door opened; and there stood
the negro。 He shouted to the bird…man inside:
〃Say; boss; come hyar。 Ef dere ain't dat dar Royal Ankalostan am
comed back!〃
Jap came in time to see the Cat jumping the wall。 They called
loudly and in the most seductive; wheedling tones: 〃Pussy; Pussy;
poor Pussy! Come; Pussy!〃 But Pussy was not prepossessed in their
favor; and disappeared to forage in her old…time haunts。
The Royal Analostan had been a windfall for Japhad been the
means of adding many comforts to the cellar and several prisoners
to the cages。 It was now of the utmost importance to recapture
her majesty。 Stale meat…offal and other infallible lures were put
out till Pussy; urged by the reestablished hunger…pinch; crept up
to a large fish…head in a box…trap; the negro; in watching;
pulled the string that dropped the lid; and; a minute later; the
Analostan was once more among the prisoners in the cellar。
Meanwhile Jap had been watching the 'Lost and Found' column。
There it was; 〃25 reward;〃 etc。 That night Mr。 Malee's butler
called at the Fifth Avenue mansion with the missing cat。 〃Mr。
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 fee