Anne wondered uneasily what was the matter with her . Was her hat crooked ? Was her belt loose ? Craning her head to investigate , Anne , for the first time , saw Rusty . Trotting along behind her , close to her heels , was quite the most forlorn specimen of the cat tribe she had ever beheld . The animal was well past kitten-hood , lank , thin , disreputable looking . Pieces of both ears were lacking , one eye was temporarily out of repair , and one jowl ludicrously swollen . As for color , if a once black cat had been well and thoroughly singed the result would have resembled the hue of this waif 's thin , draggled , unsightly fur . Anne `` shooed , '' but the cat would not `` shoo . '' As long as she stood he sat back on his haunches and gazed at her reproachfully out of his one good eye ; when she resumed her walk he followed . Anne resigned herself to his company until she reached the gate of Patty 's Place , which she coldly shut in his face , fondly supposing she had seen the last of him . But when , fifteen minutes later , Phil opened the door , there sat the rusty-brown cat on the step . More , he promptly darted in and sprang upon Anne 's lap with a half-pleading , half-triumphant `` miaow . '' `` Anne , '' said Stella severely , `` do you own that animal ? '' `` No , I do NOT , '' protested disgusted Anne . `` The creature followed me home from somewhere . I could n't get rid of him . Ugh , get down . I like decent cats reasonably well ; but I do n't like beasties of your complexion . '' Pussy , however , refused to get down .
He coolly curled up XXXXX Anne 's lap and began to purr .
as for from in of on to until upon with