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From that time Rusty was one of the family。 He slept o'nights on the
scrubbing cushion in the back porch and lived on the fat of the land。
By the time Aunt Jamesina came he was plump and glossy and tolerably
respectable。 But； like Kipling's cat； he 〃walked by himself。〃
His paw was against every cat； and every cat's paw against him。
One by one he vanquished the aristocratic felines of Spofford Avenue。
As for human beings； he loved Anne and Anne alone。 Nobody else even
dared stroke him。 An angry spit and something that sounded much like
very improper language greeted any one who did。
〃The airs that cat puts on are perfectly intolerable；〃 declared Stella。
〃Him was a nice old pussens； him was；〃 vowed Anne； cuddling her pet defiantly。
〃Well； I don't know how he and the Sarah…cat will ever make out
to live together；〃 said Stella pesimistically。 〃Cat…fights in
the orchard o'nights are bad enough。 But cat…fights here in the
livingroom are unthinkable。〃 In due time Aunt Jamesina arrived。
Anne and Priscilla and Phil had awaited her advent rather dubiously；
but when Aunt Jamesina was enthroned in the rocking chair before the
open fire they figuratively bowed down and worshipped her。
Aunt Jamesina was a tiny old woman with a little； softly…triangular face；
and large； soft blue eyes that were alight with unquenchable youth； and
as full of hopes as a girl's。 She had pink cheeks and snow…white hair
which she wore in quaint little puffs over her ears。
〃It's a very old…fashioned way；〃 she said； knitting industriously
at something as dainty and pink as a sunset cloud。 〃But _I_ am old…fashioned。
My clothes are； and it stands to reason my opinions are； too。 I don't say
they're any the better of that； mind you。 In fact； I daresay they're a good
deal the worse。 But they've worn nice and easy。 New shoes are smarter than
old ones； but the old ones are more comfortable。 I'm old enough to indulge
myself in the matter of shoes and opinions。 I mean to take it real easy here。
I know you expect me to look after you and keep you proper； but I'm not going
to do it。
You're old enough to know how to behave if you're ever going to be。
So； as far as I am concerned；〃 concluded Aunt Jamesina； with a twinkle
in her young eyes； 〃you can all go to destruction in your own way。〃
〃Oh； will somebody separate those cats？〃 pleaded Stella； shudderingly。
Aunt Jamesina had brought with her not only the Sarah…cat but Joseph。
Joseph； she explained； had belonged to a dear friend of hers who had
gone to live in Vancouver。
〃She couldn't take Joseph with her so she begged me to take him。
I really couldn't refuse。 He's a beautiful cat that is； his
disposition is beautiful。 She called him Joseph because his coat
is of many colors。〃
It certainly was。 Joseph； as the disgusted Stella said； looked
like a walking rag…bag。 It was impossible to say what his ground
color was。 His legs were white with black spots on them。
His back was gray with a huge patch of yellow on one side and a
black patch on the other。 His tail was yellow with a gray tip。
One ear was black and one yellow。 A black patch over one eye gave
him a fearfully rakish look。 In reality he was meek and inoffensive；
of a sociable disposition。 In one respect； if in no other； Joseph
was like a lily of the field。 He toiled not neither did he spin
or catch mice。 Yet Solomon in all his glory slept not on softer
cushions； or feasted more fully on fat things。
Joseph and the Sarah…cat arrived by express in separate boxes。
After they had been released and fed； Joseph selected the cushion
and corner which appealed to him； and the Sarah…cat gravely sat
herself down before the fire and proceeded to wash her face。 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。 Don'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 on the Sarah…cat ruled
the roost。 Rusty never again interfered with her。
But Joseph rashly sat up and yawned。 Rusty； burning to avenge
his disgrace； swooped down upon him。 Joseph； pacific by nature；
could fight upon occasion and fight well。 The result was a
series of drawn battles。 Every day Rusty and Joseph fought at
sight。 Anne took Rusty's part and detested Joseph。 Stella was
in despair。 But Aunt Jamesina only laughed。
Let them fight it out；〃 she said tolerantly。 〃They'll make friends
after a bit。 Joseph needs some exercise he was getting too fat。
And Rusty has to learn he isn't the only cat in the world。〃
Eventually Joseph and Rusty accepted the situation and from sworn
enemies became sworn friends。 They slept on the same cushion with
their paws about each other； and gravely washed each other's faces。
〃We've all got used to each other；〃 said Phil。 〃And I've learned
how to wash dishes and sweep a floor。〃
〃But you needn't try to make us believe you can chloroform a cat；〃
laughed Anne。
〃It was all the fault of the knothole；〃 protested Phil。
〃It was a good thing the knothole was there；〃 said Aunt Jamesina
rather severely。 〃Kittens HAVE to be drowned； I admit； or the
world would be overrun。 But no decent； grown…up cat should be
done to death unless he sucks eggs。〃
〃You wouldn't have thought Rusty very decent if you'd seen him when
he came here；〃 said Stella。 〃He positively looked like the Old Nick。〃
〃I don't believe Old Nick can be so very； ugly〃 said Aunt Jamesina
reflectively。 〃He wouldn't do so much harm if he was。 _I_ always
think of him as a rather handsome gentleman。〃
Chapter XVII
A Letter from Davy
〃It's beginning to snow； girls；〃 said Phil； coming in one
November evening； 〃and there are the loveliest little stars and
crosses a