` What was the child 's name ? ' asked the Mouse . ` Top Off , ' said the Cat drily . ` Topoff ! ' echoed the Mouse , ` it is indeed a wonderful and curious name . Is it in your family ? ' ` What is there odd about it ? ' said the Cat . ` It is not worse than Breadthief , as your godchild is called . ' Not long after this another great longing came over the Cat . She said to the Mouse , ` You must again be kind enough to look after the house alone , for I have been asked a second time to stand godmother , and as this child has a white ring round its neck , I can not refuse . ' The kind Mouse agreed , but the Cat slunk under the town wall to the church , and ate up half of the pot of fat . ` Nothing tastes better , ' said she , ` than what one eats by oneself , ' and she was very much pleased with her day 's work . When she came home the Mouse asked , ` What was this child called ? ' ` Half Gone , ' answered the Cat . ` Halfgone ! what a name ! I have never heard it in my life . I do n't believe it is in the calendar . ' Soon the Cat 's mouth began to water once more after her licking business .
` All good things in threes , ' she said XXXXX the Mouse ; ' I have again to stand godmother .
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