The May moon is still shining white and round in the sky; but eastward
beyond the hills, silhouetting a farmhouse roof, the first faint light
of dawn tinges the distant horizon.... Along a hedge leading from the
farm a house-cat comes creeping. At intervals it stops and casts a
watchful glance behind ... then hurries on again.
The advancing day slowly spreads its wakening touch over the land. In
the zenith the sky is already blue, and the stars are going to rest;
but all human talk and noise is still buried in the feather-beds of the
farm ... only a mighty vibrating chorus of invisible larks fills the
air.
The animal is apparently quite an ordinary cat. Its small round head
rests on a thick, shapely neck; the legs are short, the tail round and
smooth, and the curve of the neck graceful and harmonious.
But on the underside pussy is quite bare and naked. Her stomach is
distended from breast to groin like an overfilled sack. The cat has had
kittens in her time; the fact cannot be denied!
The squeak of a mouse from the shadow of the hedge brings her to
an abrupt halt. Her ears spring to a point and appear all at once
disproportionately large, like those of a rabbit. In shape they
resemble lynx ears more than a cat’s; the only thing lacking is the
tuft.
The night-mists roll slowly from the valleys, revealing the green,
dew-spangled blades of the fresh spring crop. Along border and hedge
the wild flowers begin to clothe themselves in the sun’s variegated
hues. The colours, too, in the cat’s coat begin now to be visible.
She is mouse-grey, with black stockings and white shoes. But round her
breast and sides runs--like a mark of distinction--a band of rust-red
fur.
Soon Grey Puss resumes her interrupted journey from the farm; the
mouse has been successfully captured and eaten. At first she had been
tempted to play with it; but the bark of a dog from the direction of
the farm brought other thoughts into her head. She no longer steals
along--but runs....