And now as we rode on silently, and I deemed that his mind was full of bodings, as was mine, he roused me from the memory of what I had seen and heard by saying, with a laugh: "Saw you the old dame's cat ?" "Aye," I answered carelessly; "a great one, and a friendly beast enough." "Was it so?
Then I will warrant that the old witch was in a sorely bad temper," he said, laughing again.
"What makes you think that ?" I asked, not caring if he answered.
"Why, our folk say that the temper of cat and witch are ever opposite.

So when they go to ask aught of the old lady, they wait outside till they see how the cat--which is, no doubt, her familiar spirit--behaves.

Then if the beast is wild and savage, they know that its mistress will be in good temper and they may go in.

But if the cat is friendly, they may as well go home, else will they be like to get harder words than they would care to hear." Then I laughed also, and said that there seemed nought strange in the ways of the great cat, but that it behaved as if used to being noticed kindly.
"That is certain," said Relf.

"It is not well to offend either mistress or beast.