questioned Anne . `` Why in the world do n't you come ? '' demanded Stella , appearing in the doorway . `` We 've got the grave ready . ` What silent still and silent all ? ' '' she quoted teasingly . '' ` Oh , no , the voices of the dead Sound like the distant torrent 's fall , ' '' promptly counter-quoted Anne , pointing solemnly to the box . A burst of laughter broke the tension . `` We must leave him here till morning , '' said Phil , replacing the stone . `` He has n't mewed for five minutes . Perhaps the mews we heard were his dying groan . Or perhaps we merely imagined them , under the strain of our guilty consciences . '' But , when the box was lifted in the morning , Rusty bounded at one gay leap to Anne 's shoulder where he began to lick her face affectionately . Never was there a cat more decidedly alive . `` Here 's a knot hole in the box , '' groaned Phil . `` I never saw it . That 's why he did n't die . Now , we 've got to do it all over again . '' `` No , we have n't , '' declared Anne suddenly . `` Rusty is n't going to be killed again .
He 's my cat -- and you 've just got to make the best XXXXX it . ''
Rusty Stella at for in like of till to under