They had come on another errand, namely, to bid me a long farewell. My uncle had been back and forth between London and Antwerp several times, but now he had removed his business wholly to that city, and determined to settle there for the rest of his life. There was a great deal of commerce between Antwerp and London at that time, and more things were brought over in the way of merchandise than passed the customs. Again the mother assistant whispered the prioress, and then addressed herself to me. "Loveday, you may take your aunt and cousins to see the church and the garden and orchard. I am sure they will take no undue advantage." "Surely not, reverend mother!" said my aunt, with a deep reverence. "It will be a great pleasure to me to see my niece's future home. Joseph Saunders is waiting without with a present for the house, and I have ventured to take the liberty of bringing down our cat, if the ladies are fond of such pets. He is a fine creature and somewhat uncommon." "I saw in a moment that mother assistant was gratified. She loved pet animals, and indeed, that was about the only indulgence she ever permitted herself. "A cat—oh, yes. Mother assistant will be delighted, I am sure!" said the prioress, rather peevishly. "She loves a cat better than a Christian, any day." "And my nephew hath sent a case or two of foreign sweetmeats and some Basle gingerbread," * continued my aunt, without noticing this not very dignified outburst—"with some loaves of sugar and a packet of spices. He hopes my lady prioress will condescend to accept them as a token of gratitude for her kindness to his niece." "Certainly—certainly, and with thanks!" answered the prioress, with alacrity. "Tell him, he shall have our prayers for his journey. I am sure he cannot be inclined to heresy as they say, or he would never send such nice presents to our house." * Basle then, as now, was famous for its gingerbread, which is, in fact, a rich and spicy kind of iced plum cake—made to keep long. "There, go child, and show your cousins the garden and the orchard!" said the mother assistant, interposing rather more hastily than was consistent with good discipline. "I will come presently and make acquaintance with this wonderful cat." I was not slow in availing myself of the permission. As I stopped to shut the door, whereof the lock was out of order, I heard the prioress say, in an aggrieved tone, "Really, sister—" and I knew she was, as usual, asserting her dignity, and defending her authority, which took a good deal of defending, certainly. I drew my aunt and cousins out to the gate, and we quickly released Turk from his imprisonment. He was hugely indignant at first. But finding himself among friends, and being invited to partake of refreshment, he very soon smoothed his ruffled plumes, and before long was entirely at home.