All that, yes ...and the habits of the year before that one finds again, molded to one's shape, like a cushion marked with the imprint of a long sleep ...the long nights of freedom, when the lone owlet, with his sad little laugh, makes his way through the air as quietly as I do on the ground, and silvery gray rats cling to the vines, eating grapes and keeping their eyes on me at the same time. It's the sun-cure on the hot stone-wall, from which I arise wan and shrunken, baked through and through, but svelte enough to make the youngest tomcat envious. (_Coming back to the present with a murderous look at_ THE LITTLE DOG.) Death to you, ill-smelling beast, for having evoked these by-gone joys! Aren't you going to disappear, that I may come down from this cold pedestal, where my paws are growing numb? TOBY-DOG, (_enthusiastically to_ THE LITTLE DOG) But let us forget all that! With you there, I can think of nothing but you. I feel that I love you! THE LITTLE DOG, (_lowering her eyes_) Do you mean ...really? TOBY-DOG Of course I do! THE LITTLE DOG So soon! TOBY-DOG We've already wasted a great deal of time. THE LITTLE DOG But ... we've been chatting. I've enjoyed it very much ... and I fail to understand why the society of young dogs like you, is forbidden me ... TOBY-DOG Allow me to make love to you. THE LITTLE DOG What's that? TOBY-DOG I'll show you. First I hold myself very erect, stiffen my legs, walk 'round you, barking low and melodiously. My tail wriggles, my ears ... THE LITTLE DOG Don't come near me. I feel quite upset. (_Escaping_.) Aïe! You unmannerly fellow! KIKI-THE-DEMURE, (_standing up_) These preludes are indeed a sad parody on our wild love-making ... (_aloud, very angry_) I should think-- THE LITTLE DOG _looks to see where the dreadful voice is coming from, and espies a strange striped monster with eyes afire, and eyebrows and whiskers bristling ferociously. She dashes towards the door crying_, Help, help! There's a tiger on the piano!... _And falls into the arms of her mistress, who has come upon the scene and proceeds to console her with great volubility; Fifi! my Zezette! My darling! there, there, goo, goo, goo, goo, you poor helpless little doggie! What did they do to her? Ooooo!--Ooo! Was it the naughty bow-bow? etc., etc., etc_. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Barks and Purrs by Colette Willy, aka Colette Translated by Maire Kelly