She was a large , sleek , gray-and-white cat , with an enormous dignity which was not at all impaired by any consciousness of her plebian origin . She had been given to Aunt Jamesina by her washerwoman . `` Her name was Sarah , so my husband always called puss the Sarah-cat , '' explained Aunt Jamesina . `` She is eight years old , and a remarkable mouser . Do n't worry , Stella . The Sarah-cat NEVER fights and Joseph rarely . '' `` They 'll have to fight here in self-defense , '' said Stella . At this juncture Rusty arrived on the scene . He bounded joyously half way across the room before he saw the intruders . Then he stopped short ; his tail expanded until it was as big as three tails . The fur on his back rose up in a defiant arch ; Rusty lowered his head , uttered a fearful shriek of hatred and defiance , and launched himself at the Sarah-cat . The stately animal had stopped washing her face and was looking at him curiously . She met his onslaught with one contemptuous sweep of her capable paw . Rusty went rolling helplessly over on the rug ; he picked himself up dazedly . What sort of a cat was this who had boxed his ears ? He looked dubiously at the Sarah-cat . Would he or would he not ? The Sarah-cat deliberately turned her back on him and resumed her toilet operations . Rusty decided that he would not . He never did .
From that time XXXXX the Sarah-cat ruled the roost .
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