She had no time to think further. Up and up she went to the attic and there stopped, panting. The Firedogs were running round and round, growling. White Owl turned his great yellow eyes in all directions. "He isn't here," said Owl. "I can see in every corner, and he isn't here. But where could he have gone?" Nobody had an answer to make, and every one felt that there was something mysterious in the Cat's sudden disappearance. "I think I'd better go back," said Highboy nervously. "It's time I was asleep. Suppose we should be found way up here!" By common consent they all moved downstairs together, going very softly. Hortense paused at Grandmother's door. She was speaking. "I'm sure I heard something," said Grandmother. "It was only the wind," Grandfather's voice replied. Hortense and Highboy crept quietly to their room while the others disappeared below. "It's good to be back safe," Highboy whispered, "but I'm so nervous I know I shan't sleep." Hortense, however, undressed quickly and climbed into bed. Soon she was fast asleep, and the next thing she knew the sun was shining into her windows. "It must have been a dream," said Hortense to herself, remembering all that had happened the evening before. "Was it a dream, Highboy?" she said suddenly, looking at him. "You may have dreamed," said Highboy irritably, "but I was so nervous I didn't sleep a wink." Saying no more, Hortense dressed rapidly and went down to breakfast. [Illustration] CHAPTER IV "_Highboy, and Lowboy, and Owl, and the Firedogs come out at night._" When Grandmother asked at breakfast if she had slept well, Hortense replied truthfully that she had. "I don't know what got into Jeremiah last night," said Grandmother. "I heard something myself, and Esmerelda declares he ran about the house like one possessed. This morning we heard him in the attic." Hortense, eating her egg and toast, thought she might tell Grandmother of last night's surprising events, but of course she wouldn't be believed. So on second thought she said nothing. Slipping away to the kitchen when breakfast was over, she found Jeremiah begging for his breakfast and Aunt Esmerelda regarding him with hands on hips, shaking her head. "Yo' sho' is possessed," said Aunt Esmerelda. "Such carrying on I never heard. I spec's de evil one was after yo', an' I hopes he catches yo' and takes yo' away wid him." Jeremiah winked his yellow eyes sleepily in reply, but at the sight of Hortense he lashed his tail and turned away. Aunt Esmerelda, grumbling, gave him a saucer of milk. "Yo' keep away from dat animal," said Aunt Esmerelda to Hortense. "No one knows de wickedness of his heart." Hortense waited in the kitchen until Mary was free to begin her morning's task of dusting and tidying the rooms. "May I come?" she begged. "Sure," said Mary kindly. "I'm dusting the big parlor this morning, and there are lots of interesting things to see there."