straight into the room, not a bit pleased. At first she was
astonished to see Marget looking so fresh and rosy, and said so; then
she spoke up in her native tongue, which was Bohemian and
said-as I learned afterward-
"The impudent thing! inviting himself when nobody's asked
him. It's just like him-I've never seen the beat of him for making
himself easy on a short acquaintance. Send him packing, Miss
Marget-there's not victuals enough."
Before Marget could speak, Satan had the word, and was talking
back at Ursula in her own language-which was a surprise for her,
and for her mistress, too. He asked-
"Didn't I see you down the road a while ago?"
"Yes, sir."
"Ah, that pleases me; I see you remember me."
"Why, of course, sir. Nobody that sees you once can forget you, I
reckon. And besides, you are so good, and so-so-so aggravating."
"Can you keep a secret?"
"I can try, sir. For your goodness, though; not for your aggravatingness.
He stepped to her and whispered, "I told you it is a Lucky Cat.
Don't be troubled-it will provide."
That sponged the slate of Ursula's feelings clean of its anxieties,
and a deep financial joy shone in her eyes. The cat's value was
augmenting. It was getting full time for Marget to take some sort of
notice of Satan's invitation, and she did it in the best way, the
honest way that was natural to her. She said she had little to offer,
but that we were welcome if we would share it with her.
We had supper in the kitchen, and Ursula waited at table. A
small fish was in the frying-pan, crisp and brown and tempting, and
one could see that Marget was not expecting such respectable food
as this. Ursula brought it, and Marget divided it between Satan and me, declining to take any of it herself; and was beginning to say she
did not care for fish to-day, but she did not finish the remark. It was
because she noticed that another fish had appeared in the pan. She
looked surprised, but did not say anything. She probably meant to
inquire of Ursula about this, later. There were other surprises:
flesh, and game, and wines and fruits-things which had been
strangers in that house lately; but Marget made no exclamations,
and did what she could to look unsurprised, which was human and
natural. Satan talked right along, and was entertaining, and made
the time pass pleasantly and cheerfully; and although he told a
good many lies it was no harm in him, for he was only an angel and
did not know any better. They do not know right from wrong; I
knew this, because I remembered what he had said about it. He
accomplished one thing which I was glad of-he got on the good
side of Ursula. He praised her to Marget, confidentially, but speaking just loud enough for Ursula to hear. He said she was a fine
woman, and he hoped some day to bring her and his uncle together.
Very soon Ursula was mincing and simpering around in a ridiculous girly way, and smoothing out her gown and prinking at herself
like a foolish old hen, and all the time pretending she was not
hearing what Satan was saying. I was ashamed, for it showed us to
he what Satan considered us, a silly race and trivial. Satan said it
was time his uncle was married, for he entertained a great deal, and
always had company staying with him, and to have a clever woman
presiding over the festivities would double the attractions of the
place.
"But your uncle is a gentleman, isn't he?" asked Marget.
"Yes," said Satan, indifferently; "some even call him a Prince, out
of compliment, but he is not bigoted; to him personal merit is
everything, rank nothing."
Marget thought he must be a most lovable gentleman and much
sought after. Satan said he was; and a great help to the clergy-but
for him they would have to go out of business.
My hand was hanging down by my chair; Agnes came along and
licked it; by this act a secret was revealed. I started to say "It is all a
mistake; this is just a common ordinary cat; the hair-needles on her
astonished to see Marget looking so fresh and rosy, and said so; then
she spoke up in her native tongue, which was Bohemian and
said-as I learned afterward-
"The impudent thing! inviting himself when nobody's asked
him. It's just like him-I've never seen the beat of him for making
himself easy on a short acquaintance. Send him packing, Miss
Marget-there's not victuals enough."
Before Marget could speak, Satan had the word, and was talking
back at Ursula in her own language-which was a surprise for her,
and for her mistress, too. He asked-
"Didn't I see you down the road a while ago?"
"Yes, sir."
"Ah, that pleases me; I see you remember me."
"Why, of course, sir. Nobody that sees you once can forget you, I
reckon. And besides, you are so good, and so-so-so aggravating."
"Can you keep a secret?"
"I can try, sir. For your goodness, though; not for your aggravatingness.
He stepped to her and whispered, "I told you it is a Lucky Cat.
Don't be troubled-it will provide."
That sponged the slate of Ursula's feelings clean of its anxieties,
and a deep financial joy shone in her eyes. The cat's value was
augmenting. It was getting full time for Marget to take some sort of
notice of Satan's invitation, and she did it in the best way, the
honest way that was natural to her. She said she had little to offer,
but that we were welcome if we would share it with her.
We had supper in the kitchen, and Ursula waited at table. A
small fish was in the frying-pan, crisp and brown and tempting, and
one could see that Marget was not expecting such respectable food
as this. Ursula brought it, and Marget divided it between Satan and me, declining to take any of it herself; and was beginning to say she
did not care for fish to-day, but she did not finish the remark. It was
because she noticed that another fish had appeared in the pan. She
looked surprised, but did not say anything. She probably meant to
inquire of Ursula about this, later. There were other surprises:
flesh, and game, and wines and fruits-things which had been
strangers in that house lately; but Marget made no exclamations,
and did what she could to look unsurprised, which was human and
natural. Satan talked right along, and was entertaining, and made
the time pass pleasantly and cheerfully; and although he told a
good many lies it was no harm in him, for he was only an angel and
did not know any better. They do not know right from wrong; I
knew this, because I remembered what he had said about it. He
accomplished one thing which I was glad of-he got on the good
side of Ursula. He praised her to Marget, confidentially, but speaking just loud enough for Ursula to hear. He said she was a fine
woman, and he hoped some day to bring her and his uncle together.
Very soon Ursula was mincing and simpering around in a ridiculous girly way, and smoothing out her gown and prinking at herself
like a foolish old hen, and all the time pretending she was not
hearing what Satan was saying. I was ashamed, for it showed us to
he what Satan considered us, a silly race and trivial. Satan said it
was time his uncle was married, for he entertained a great deal, and
always had company staying with him, and to have a clever woman
presiding over the festivities would double the attractions of the
place.
"But your uncle is a gentleman, isn't he?" asked Marget.
"Yes," said Satan, indifferently; "some even call him a Prince, out
of compliment, but he is not bigoted; to him personal merit is
everything, rank nothing."
Marget thought he must be a most lovable gentleman and much
sought after. Satan said he was; and a great help to the clergy-but
for him they would have to go out of business.
My hand was hanging down by my chair; Agnes came along and
licked it; by this act a secret was revealed. I started to say "It is all a
mistake; this is just a common ordinary cat; the hair-needles on her
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