第14部分(第1/5 頁)

r　that　this　cut　no　ice；　and　that　the　heart　needed　something　more。　I　might　by　long　research　have　discovered　some　third　term　a　little　les　hackneyed　than　these　two；　when　fate；　or　some　other　fostering　star；　sent　me　a　tawny　silky；　long…haired　cat。

If　it　be　true　that　nations　have　the　cats　they　deserve；　then　the　English　people　deserve　well　in　cats；　for　there　are　none　so　prosperous　or　so　friendly　in　the　world。　But　even　for　an　English　cat　this　cat　was　exceptionally　friendly　and　fine—especially　friendly。　It　leapt　at　one　graceful　bound　into　my　lap；　nestled　there；　put　out　an　engaging　right　front　paw　to　touch　my　arm　with　a　pretty　timidity　by　way　of　introduction；　rolled　up　at　me　an　eye　of　bright　but　innocent　affection；　and　then　smiled　a　secret　smile　of　approval。txt電子書分享平臺

和貓的對話（2）

No　man　could　be　so　timid　after　such　an　approach　as　not　to　make　some　manner　of　response。　So　did　I。　I　even　took　the　liberty　of　stroking　Amathea　（for　by　that　name　did　I　receive　this　vision）；　and　though　I　began　this　gesture　in　a　respectful　fashion；　after　the　best　models　of　polite　deportment2　with　strangers；　I　was　soon　lending　it　some　warmth；　for　I　was　touched　to　find　that　I　had　a　friend；　yes；　even　here；　at　the　ends　of　the　tubes　in　Southwest　99。　I　proceeded　（as　is　right）　from　caress　to　speech；　and　said；　“Amathea；　most　beautiful　of　cats；　why　have　you　deigned　to　single　me　out　for　so　much　favour？　Did　you　recognize　in　me　a　friend　to　all　that　breathes；　or　were　you　yourself　suffering　from　loneliness　（though　I　take　it　you　are　near　your　own　dear　home）；　or　is　there　pity　in　the　hearts　of　animals　as　there　is　in　the　hearts　of　some　humans？　What；　then；　was　your　motive？　Or　am　I；　indeed；　foolish　to　ask；　and　not　rather　to　take　whatever　good　es　to　me　in　whatever　way　from　the　gods？”

To　these　questio