If they are here one moment and gone the next, they are also gone one moment and here the next.

So, as the camel was passing under a thorn tree about half a mile out from camp, a great fluff of white hair sprang from the branches and landed right in Head-nurse's broad lap.

And there was Mistress Down looking as if butter wouldn't melt in her mouth, and purring away like a kettle on the boil.
Head-nurse gave in _altogether_ then.

"When a cat really makes up its mind," she said with forced wisdom, "it is little use any one else making up theirs!" So pussy sat in her lap, and after a while the warmth of the pretty creature and even the very roughness of the small three-cornered red tongue that licked her hand, as half-unconsciously she began to stroke the long soft fur, made her say suddenly: "Who knows but it is the Will of the Creator! This mean-born thing may in the future be of use to the Light-of-the-World, the Observed-of-all-Observers," etc., etc., etc.
And her words were to come true, for, as you will see by and bye, Down was of great use to her little master.

Nevertheless when, at the very next camping ground, a great big black golliwog of a dog with a gnawed end of rope still round his neck was seen calmly awaiting them at the door of the tent that was pitched for their reception, Head-nurse became tearful again and said that if Providence intended to send all the wild beasts of the field to look after Baby Akbar, there was no need for her; so she would give up her place.
But the little Prince himself was delighted.