Puppies and Kittens, and Other Stories by Carine Cadby - HTML preview

CHAPTER X
 SALOME GIVES A LECTURE

The kittens were the first to wake up the next morning. They couldn’t resist talking about the kitchen kittens, there was so much to say. Salome went on pretending to be asleep.

“They were such jolly playfellows,” Tompkins remarked.

“I wish we knew such exciting games,” sighed Minette, “ours will seem so tame now.”

“We’ll manage to see them again, somehow,” suggested Tompkins.

“They very nearly got us into trouble over the milk, though,” said Minette. Salome gave a big gape. “Be quiet and go to sleep,” she said and shut her eyes.

Sauntered grandly out of the room.

The kittens were silent for a short time, then they began again. “I shall try and climb the curtain again,” said Minette. “I shan’t,” said Tompkins, “I shall think of some quite new game.”

Salome woke up again. “What are you two chatterboxes talking about?” she asked.

“About the kitchen kittens, mother,” Minette replied.

“I don’t wish to be proud,” said Salome, “but really you mustn’t associate with people like that.”

“But, mother,” protested Tompkins, “the kitchen kittens are so clever.”

“In what way?” asked Salome. “I don’t see anything clever in stealing milk; it is just a common cat’s trick.”

Tompkins began to feel rather annoyed; the kitchen kittens were his friends and he admired them. He thought them so bright and clever, and Salome rather unfair. Then a naughty, mischievous idea came into his head, and looking very impudent, he asked his mother, “Do you know what they called you?”

“Oh, Tompkins!” begged Minette, “please don’t be such a tell-tale.”

“I shall,” said that naughty Tompkins; “I think mother ought to know.”

“You needn’t trouble,” remarked Salome haughtily, “it doesn’t interest me in the very least what those vulgar little kittens call me.”

“Still, you had better hear,” persisted Tompkins, and before Minette could stop him he said, “they called you a ridiculous old fluff-pot, there!”

Whatever did Salome say?

Nothing at all, and if you know anything of Persian cats you will guess what she did. She got up and had a good stretch, then she shook out each leg and sauntered grandly out of the room. It was as if she meant that what the kitchen kittens had called her was so unimportant that it was not worth thinking or saying anything about.

And what did the kittens do? Well, I believe Tompkins felt rather small and wished he hadn’t spoken. However, they were alone in the room now, so it was a good opportunity for planning fresh mischief, and I only wish I had more pages in this book that I might tell you all about it.

END