`` I do n't know . Aunt Olivia wishes he would , because she 's tired keeping house for him , and she wants to go to Aunt Julia in California . But she says he 'll never get married , because he is looking for perfection , and when he finds her she wo n't have HIM . '' By this time we were all sitting down on the gnarled roots of the spruces , and the big gray cat came over and made friends with us . He was a lordly animal , with a silver-gray coat beautifully marked with darker stripes . With such colouring most cats would have had white or silver feet ; but he had four black paws and a black nose . Such points gave him an air of distinction , and marked him out as quite different from the common or garden variety of cats . He seemed to be a cat with a tolerably good opinion of himself , and his response to our advances was slightly tinged with condescension . `` This is n't Topsy , is it ? '' I asked . I knew at once that the question was a foolish one . Topsy , the cat of which father had talked , had flourished thirty years before , and all her nine lives could scarcely have lasted so long . `` No , but it is Topsy 's great-great-great-great-grandson , '' said the Story Girl gravely . `` His name is Paddy and he is my own particular cat . We have barn cats , but Paddy never associates with them . I am very good friends with all cats . They are so sleek and comfortable and dignified . And it is so easy to make them happy . Oh , I 'm so glad you boys have come to live here . Nothing ever happens here , except days , so we have to make our own good times .
We were short of boys before -- only Dan and Peter XXXXX four girls . ''
By as at because for on over so to with