August `s Cat

The cat makes himself the companion of your hours

of solitude, melancholy and toil. He remains for the

whole evenings on your knee, uttering his contented

purr, happy to be with you, and forsaking the company of

 animals of  his own species. In vain do melodious mewings

on the roof invite him to one of those cat parties in which fish

 bones play the part of tea and cakes; he is not to be tempted

away from you. Put him down and he will jump up again,

with a sort of cooing sound that is like a gentle reproach;

and sometimes he will sit upon the carpet in front of you,

looking at you with eyes so melting, so caressing, so human,

 that they almost frighten you ; for it is impossible to believe

that a soul is not there.