They did not take any notice of the men, but one after the other came and had a rub up against my leg, purring softly, and looking up at me with their slits of eyes closed up in the bright sunshine, till all at once Old Brownsmith laid his hand upon my shoulder again, and said one word: "Breakfast!" I walked with him up to the house, and noticed that instead of following us in, the cats ran up a flight of steps into a narrow loft which seemed to be their home, two of them seating themselves at once in the doorway to blink at the sunshine.
"Like cats ?" said the old gentleman.
"Oh yes!" I said.
"Ah! I see you've made friends." "Yes, I replied; but I haven't made friends with that boy Shock." "Well, that does not matter," said Old Brownsmith.

"Come, sit down; bread and milk morning." I sat down opposite to him, to find that a big basin of bread and milk stood before each of us, and at which, after a short grace, Old Brownsmith at once began.
I hesitated for a moment, feeling a little awkward and strange, but I was soon after as busy as he.
"Not going to be ill, I see," he said suddenly.

"You must be on the look-out another time.

Accident--Ike didn't mean it." I was going to say I was sure of that, when he went on: "So you haven't made friends with Shock ?" "No, sir." "Well, don't." "I will not if you don't wish it, sir," I said eagerly.
"Be kind to him, and keep him in his place.

Hasn't been rough to you, has he ?" "Oh no!" I said.