And it really seemed as if they had climbed a very long way, when from above came faintly and softly the sound of a plaintive "mew." "Mew, mew," it said again, whoever the "it" was, and then stopped.
The children looked at each other.
"Cats!" they said at the same instant.
"It's just as well," said Hugh, "that none of the animals did come with us, as so many of them are birds." Another step or two and the mystery was explained.

They had reached the top of the turret stair; it led them into a little hall, all, like the great hall below, painted white.

It looked perfectly pure and clean, as if it had only been painted the day before, and yet there was a curiously _old_ look about it too, and a faint scent of dried rose leaves seemed to be in the air.
There was a door in this little hall, exactly opposite the top of the stair, and at each side of the door was an arm-chair, also all white, and with a white satin cushion instead of a seat.

And on each of these chairs sat a most beautiful white cat.

The only colour in the hall was the flash of their green eyes, as they turned them full on the two children.
Jeanne crept a little closer to Hugh.