Part 10 (2/2)

”Good-day, man in the house,” said the cat.

”Good-day, cat,” said the man. ”Have you had anything to eat yet to-day?”

”O, only a little, but my fast has hardly been broken,” said the cat. ”I have had no more than a dish of mush and a little potful of fat, and I am thinking over whether I ought not to eat you as well,” said she, and she seized the man and ate him up. Then she went into the stable. There sat the woman, milking.

”Good-day, woman in the stable,” said the cat.

”Good-day, cat, is that you?” said the woman. ”Have you eaten your food?” she asked.

”O, only a little to-day. My fast has hardly been broken,” said the cat.

”I have had no more than a dish of mush and a little potful of fat and the man in the house, and I'm thinking over whether I ought not to eat you as well,” said she, and she seized the woman and ate her up.

”Good-day, cow at the manger,” said the cat to the bell-cow.

”Good-day, cat,” said the bell-cow. ”Have you had anything to eat yet to-day?” ”O, only a little. My fast has hardly been broken,” said the cat. ”I have had no more than a dish of mush and a little potful of fat and the man in the house and the woman in the stable, and I'm thinking over whether I ought not to eat you as well,” said the cat, and seized the bell-cow and ate her up. Then she went up to the orchard, and there stood a man who was sweeping up leaves.

”Good-day, leaf-sweeper in the orchard,” said the cat.

”Good-day, cat,” said the man. ”Have you had anything to eat yet to-day?”

”O, only a little. My fast has hardly been broken,” said the cat. ”I have had no more than a dish of mush and a little potful of fat and the man in the house and the woman in the stable and the bell-cow at the manger, and I'm thinking over whether I ought not to eat you up as well,” said she, and seized the leaf-sweeper and ate him up.

Then she came to a stone-pile. There stood the weasel, looking about him.

”Good-day, weasel on the stone-pile,” said the cat.

”Good-day, cat,” said the weasel. ”Have you had anything to eat yet to-day?”

”O, only a little. My fast has hardly been broken,” said the cat. ”I have had no more than a dish of mush and a little potful of fat and the man in the house and the woman in the stable and the bell-cow at the manger and the leaf-sweeper in the orchard, and I'm thinking over whether I ought not to eat you as well,” said the cat, and seized the weasel and ate him up.

After she had gone a while, she came to a hazel-bush. There sat the squirrel, gathering nuts.

”Good-day, squirrel in the bush,” said the cat.

”Good-day, cat! Have you already had anything to eat yet to-day?” said the squirrel.

”O, only a little. My fast has hardly been broken,” said the cat. ”I have had no more than a dish of mush and a little potful of fat and the man in the house and the woman in the stable and the bell-cow at the manger and the leaf-sweeper in the orchard and the weasel on the stone-pile, and I'm thinking over whether I ought not to eat you up as well,” said she, and seized the squirrel and ate him up.

After she had gone a little while longer, she met Reynard the fox, who was peeping out of the edge of the forest.

”Good-day, fox, you sly-boots,” said the cat.

”Good-day, cat! Have you had anything to eat yet to-day?” said the fox.

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