`` I 'm afraid the Very Handsome Cat is n't coming to-day , '' sighed Jims . Then he brightened up ; the Very Handsome Cat was coming across the lawn . He was the only living thing , barring birds and butterflies , that Jims ever saw in the garden . Jims worshipped that cat . He was jet black , with white paws and dickey , and he had as much dignity as ten cats . Jims ' fingers tingled to stroke him . Jims had never been allowed to have even a kitten because Aunt Augusta had a horror of cats . And you can not stroke gobblers ! The Very Handsome Cat came through the rose garden paths on his beautiful paws , ambled daintily around the rockery , and sat down in a shady spot under a pine tree , right where Jims could see him , through a gap in the little poplars . He looked straight up at Jims and winked . At least , Jims always believed and declared he did . And that wink said , or seemed to say , plainly : `` Be a sport . Come down here and play with me . A fig for your Aunt Augusta ! '' A wild , daring , absurd idea flashed into Jims ' brain . Could he ? He could ! He would ! He knew it would be easy . He had thought it all out many times , although until now he had never dreamed of really doing it .
To unhook the window and swing it open , to step out on the pine bough and from it XXXXX another that hung over the wall and dropped nearly to the ground , to spring from it to the velvet sward under the poplars -- why , it was all the work of a minute .
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