First thing you know you 'll be dreaming again -- thank the Lord for it . I ai n't going to ask you what 's soured you on dreaming just now . After awhile you 'll begin again , especially if you come to this garden as much as I hope you will . It 's chockful of dreams -- any kind of dreams . You take your choice . Now , I favour dreams of adventures , if you 'll believe it . I 'm sixty-one and I never do anything rasher than go out cod-fishing on a fine day , but I still lust after adventures . Then I dream I 'm an awful fellow -- blood-thirsty . '' I burst out laughing . Perhaps laughter was somewhat rare in that old garden . Tamzine , who was weeding at the far end , lifted her head in a startled fashion and walked past us into the house . She did not look at us or speak to us . She was reputed to be abnormally shy . She was very stout and wore a dress of bright red-and-white striped material . Her face was round and blank , but her reddish hair was abundant and beautiful . A huge , orange-coloured cat was at her heels ; as she passed us he bounded over to the arbour and sprang up on Abel 's knee . He was a gorgeous brute , with vivid green eyes , and immense white double paws . `` Captain Kidd , Mr. Woodley . '' He introduced us as seriously as if the cat had been a human being . Neither Captain Kidd nor I responded very enthusiastically .
`` You do n't like cats , I reckon , master , '' said XXXXX , stroking the Captain 's velvet back .
Abel First Kidd Tamzine Woodley arbour cod-fishing day heels house