THE SIAMESE CAT
"But the two small ones are blue," said Mrs. Holborow, forgetting her general objection in a particular. "And the King has officially declared that blue cats are.…"
"Oh, Aunt Julia," cried the girl reproachfully, "just see the other. He's a dear."
The dear uttered a "Yaow!" of unearthly volume, and stared up with the ice-blue eyes of a goblin. He was not of the royal hue, but fawn-coloured, with seal-brown face, paws, and tail, bat-ears, and bristling moustachios of snow-white.
"He heard me!" said Laura "I must have him."
"No enthusiasm," commanded Scarlett. "Let me." Then, turning to the Chinaman, who sat in a fine oblivion, smoking a Malacca tin pipe like a long-spouted silver tea-pot:
"Ni teng ha," he said, and pointed to one of the blue cats. "Miu chai gi dǒ?"
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