"Nay, nay, nay," he cried, almost fiercely, "for the wrong that your parents would do you must never be accomplished."

"Speak no more, sir. Speak no more, Edgar."

"Adieu, Edgar. Adieu, Shireen."

"Adieu!"

Then they led her weeping away.

Did I ever see my sweet mistress again? Was that what you asked me, Warlock? Well, I will tell you another day. For see, my master is getting up to go. No, Vee-Vee, I do not want your convoy. Go home with master, and you, too, d.i.c.k and Warlock.

"Well, good afternoon, old friend," said Colonel Clarkson, shaking hands with Uncle Ben. "You'll come up to-morrow evening to the Castle, won't you?"

"That will I. Ha, your old puss is off then."

"Yes," said the Colonel. "She has queer ways altogether. She is going now on a round of visits. I do wish she were not so old. We shall all miss poor Shireen when she dies. Good-day."

d.i.c.k at once flew on to his master's shoulder. Tabby c.o.c.ked her tail and trotted along by his side, and the dogs followed.

It may seem strange to some readers that a starling should become so tame, but I wish the reader to remember that d.i.c.k is a study from the real life, and not a bird of the author's imagination.

The road homewards was about two miles in all. During the walk d.i.c.k kept on his master's shoulder until about half-way to the castle. They were then between two hedges, and just beyond was a field of turnips.

Among these d.i.c.k knew right well he would find some of his favourite t.i.t-bits, so without saying, by your leave, to his master, he flew off over the hedge.

Colonel Clarkson waited a reasonable time, but as d.i.c.k did not reappear, he bent down towards the Tabby cat and smoothed her.

"Go, find," he said.

In a moment the cat was off through the hedge.

The Colonel listened with an amused smile on his face. He knew right well what would happen.

Then he heard d.i.c.k's voice, and knew that p.u.s.s.y had found the truant.

"Eh? Eh? What is it?" These are his very words. "Tse, tse, tse!

Sugar and snails! You r-r-rascal!"

Then back flew d.i.c.k to his master. Tabby herself appeared next minute, and the journey was resumed without further incident or adventure.

Meanwhile, where was Shireen?

When Shireen left Uncle Ben's bungalow, she kept along inside the railing for some time. It was about the hour at which the butcher's dog came out for his evening run, and Shireen knew right well he would be revenged on her if he possibly could, so she was determined not to give him the chance. But the coast was clear, and soon she was in the village. She trotted into the blacksmith's shop, and he had a very kindly greeting for her, Shireen was very fond of spending half-an-hour with the blacksmith. Cats like pleasant people, and he was always laughing or singing, and often beating time to his song with the hammer on a red-hot horse-shoe, while the yellow sparks flew in all directions.

Besides, there was always a nice fire here, and an air of comfort in the place--to Shireen's way of thinking. She was a high-bred cat, it is true, and a cat of ancient lineage, as we know, but she was not at all aristocratic in the choice of her friends.

Shireen left the blacksmith at last, and went to see the sick child. It is strange, but true as well as strange, that cats never fail to sympathise with human beings in grief or suffering.

But little Tom Richards was better to-night, and sitting up in his chair by the fireside. He was delighted when Shireen came in, and made his mother place a saucer of milk down for her, and puss drank a little just to please the boy.

Then she permitted him to nurse her for quite a long time. Tom, child though he was, quite appreciated the value of this compliment; for although Shireen would permit a child to take her up, and even to pull her about and tease her, no grown-up person, with the exception of the Colonel and his wife, must dare to handle her.

But Shireen jumped down at last, and begged Tommy's mother to open the door to her.

"Oh, don't let p.u.s.s.y go yet!" pleaded the boy.

"I must, dear, I must," said his mother, "else she may not come again."

This was very true, for cats cannot bear restraint of any kind. If they are to be truly happy they must be allowed to go and come as they please.

Before going home Shireen had still another fireside to visit. And this was Emily's.

A very humble hearth indeed; but poor Emily's eyes sparkled with joy when Shireen came trotting in.

"Oh, Shireen dear, is it you?" she cried. "Oh, you beautiful good puss, and I haven't seen you since Cracker nearly killed the butcher's dog.

Look, p.u.s.s.y, here is Cracker."

Yes, there was Cracker, sure enough, and the dog and cat at once exchanged courtesies. Had you seen them lying together in front of the fire a few minutes after this, reader, you would never again have made use of that silly phrase--a cat and dog life. Cats and dogs, if brought up together, _do_ agree. It is mankind that causes them to be enemies.

A dog is far too n.o.ble an animal to touch a cat, unless he has been trained to look upon her as vermin.

"You see, I'm very busy to-night, Shireen," said Emily. "Mending stockings for father. But baby is asleep, and so I have all the evening to myself, for I have already done my lessons."

Poor Emily! her life was a somewhat hard one. Her mother had died but recently, and her father, who was only a labouring man, had been left all alone with Emily and her baby sister. All day long the child was taken care of by a neighbour, but as soon as school was dismissed Emily went for her, and then her work, indeed, began. Board Schools, as a rule, are a benefit to the nation, but there are cases when compulsory attendance falls heavy on children and parents too.

Emily's father was sitting on the other side of the fire smoking his humble clay.

He bent down and stroked the cat.

"Ay, p.u.s.s.y," he said, "Emily _is_ very busy, and the Lord Himself knows what I should do without her. The Lord be thankit for a good kind daughter."

So Shireen sat there nodding and singing by the fire, until she sang herself asleep. But when Emily arose at last, she asked to go, and her request was immediately granted.

"Good-night, p.u.s.s.y," said Emily. "Mind to come again."

And while p.u.s.s.y went trotting homewards through the darkness of a starless autumn night, Emily went in to prepare her father's supper.

No, it is true, Emily was not a very good-looking girl, but she had a right kind heart of her own. And this is even better than beauty.

CHAPTER TEN.

WE SAILED AWAY TO THE SOUTH.

Well, children, said Shireen, a few nights after, when she and her friends were once more all around the low and cheerful fire, the Colonel as usual in his place by the table, and Uncle Ben, c.o.c.katoo on shoulder, in an easy-chair. Well, children, here we are as cosy as cosy can be; and when I see you all beside me, and the fire blinking and burning so cheerily, I feel so happy all over that I can hardly express myself, even in song.

"But hear how the wind is howling to-night!" said Tabby, looking towards the window.

"Tse, tse, tse!" said d.i.c.k, as if much impressed.

Warlock simply sat on one end, looking thoughtfully into the fire. Wind or weather did not trouble Warlock much, he was as much at home among the heather on a wild winter's day with the snow two feet deep, and clouds of ice-dust blowing, as he was among the wild flowers in dingle, dell, or forest, when summer was in its prime.