Page:Three men in a boat (to say nothing of the dog) (IA threemeninboatto00jerorich).pdf/219

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Three Men in a Boat.
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Montmorency: "No—no, thanks."

The Cat: "Don't you mind speaking, if you really want anything, you know."

Montmorency (backing down the High Street): "Oh, no—not at all—certainly—don't you trouble. I—I am afraid I've made a mistake. I thought I knew you. Sorry I disturbed you."

The Cat: "Not at all—quite a pleasure. Sure you don't want anything, now?"

Montmorency (still backing): "Not at all, thanks—not at all—very kind of you. Good morning."

The Cat: "Good-morning."

Then the cat rose, and continued his trot; and Montmorency, fitting what he calls his tail carefully into its groove, came back to us, and took up an unimportant position in the rear.

To this day, if you say the word "Cats!" to Montmorency, he will visibly shrink and look up piteously at you, as if to say:

"Please don't."

We did our marketing after breakfast, and revictualled the boat for three days. George said we ought to take vegetables—that it was unhealthy not to eat vegetables. He said they were easy enough to cook, and that he would see to that;