"You _hope_!" exclaimed I, almost with a bark; for in spite of my fears, I by no means admired Pussy's modest style of consolation. Mortification got the better of prudence, and I felt that I would rather fight every day and all day long than not be thought worth fighting with. "I hope it for myself," she answered; "but I do not expect you to be of the same opinion. I am content to shun danger and avoid blame; but it is your nature to meet peril and to court praise." "You are rather inconsistent," interrupted I, somewhat nettled: "one of your objections to coming with me was, that you thought you could be of no use in London; and now you are wishing to be altogether unnoticed." "I do not see any contradiction," she replied; "one may be useful without being conspicuous. If I can fill my own little post quietly, so as to please you and my master, I am content that no one else should even know of my existence. My climbing exploits are only for my own pleasure, as you know. I have no ambition." "Such a life would not satisfy me at all," I answered. "So much the better," said Puss; "there would be few great things done in the world if no one were more energetic or daring than I. It is a capital thing that there should be such as you, able and willing to defend the weak, and to stand up for the right without fear of consequences. It is your proper part, and I am truly grateful to you for acting it so nobly as you did yesterday." This view of the matter soothed my feelings; and for the present, at any rate, I was glad that Pussy's retiring disposition should have its way. The more she crept through by-ways and slunk into corners, the better I was pleased, for I was too fond of her to wish to see her in danger for the sake of my own honour and glory. So with care and caution we went on our way, taking every means to avoid not only dogs and boys, but even older and wiser beings; and at last, under lamp-posts and door-posts, through kennels and gutters, now creeping along the ledge of a wall, now hiding under the shelter of a friendly porch, always watching each other at every step we took, we arrived at our own door. All necessity for caution being now happily at an end, I indulged myself in a bark loud enough to rouse the house, though too joyous to alarm it. Presently our good friend John appeared in the area, talking to himself while going about his work. We heard him say in a hesitating manner, "I could not help almost fancying that I heard my poor Captain's bark; but I know it is nothing but my folly, always thinking of him. He's been and got himself stolen by some of those London dog-stealers. _I_ shall never see him again, poor fellow." I barked again. John looked up, and there I stood, only too happy to be able to contradict him. Extraordinary, that knowing me as he did, he should have thought me capable of deserting my best friends and letting myself be enticed away by a dog-stealer! I hoped I had more sense than that.