`` I 'm sorry ; '' and Demi sat silent a minute , wondering what subject would be safe to try next . He felt delicate about speaking of the departed lady , but was very curious about the cats , and could not resist asking softly , `` Did she cure the sick ones ? '' `` Sometimes . One had a broken leg , and she tied it up to a stick , and it got well ; and another had fits , and she doctored it with yarbs till it was cured . But some of 'em died , and she buried 'em ; and when they could n't get well , she killed 'em easy . '' `` How ? '' asked Demi , feeling that there was a peculiar charm about this old woman , and some sort of joke about the cats , because Dan was smiling to himself . `` A kind lady , who was fond of cats , told her how , and gave her some stuff , and sent all her own pussies to be killed that way . Marm used to put a sponge wet with ether , in the bottom of an old boot , then poke puss in head downwards . The ether put her to sleep in a jiffy , and she was drowned in warm water before she woke up . '' `` I hope the cats did n't feel it . I shall tell Daisy about that . You have known a great many interesting things , have n't you ? '' asked Demi , and fell to meditating on the vast experience of a boy who had run away more than once , and taken care of himself in a big city . `` Wish I had n't sometimes . '' `` Why ? Do n't remembering them feel good ? '' `` No . '' `` It 's very singular how hard it is to manage your mind , '' said Demi , clasping his hands round his knees , and looking up at the sky as if for information upon his favorite topic . `` Devilish hard no , I do n't mean that ; '' and Dan bit his lips , for the forbidden word slipped out in spite of him , and he wanted to be more careful with Demi than with any of the other boys .
`` I 'll play I did n't hear it , '' said XXXXX ; `` and you wo n't do it again , I 'm sure . ''
Daisy Dan Demi Devilish Marm downwards drowned minute pussies yarbs