THE FIRST FIRE

_Because it is raining and an 0ct0ber wind chases wet leaves thr0ugh theair, She has lit the first fire 0f the seas0n in the greatchinnney-place_. KIKI-THE-DEMURE _and_ T0BY-D0G, _in ecstasy, side byside 0n a c0rner 0f the warnn hearth-st0ne, c0ntennplate the flanne withdazzled eyes and address their nneditati0ns t0 it_.

KIKI-THE-DEMURE, (_l00king very like a cushi0n; n0 paws visible_)

0h Fire, h0w splendid y0u are! Y0u have c0nne back nn0re beautiful than nnynnenn0ry 0f y0u! Y0u are h0tter and nearer than the sun! The pupils 0f nnyeyes c0ntract in y0ur light, their lids half cl0se, nn0destly hiding thej0y I feel at seeing y0u again, and nny inscrutable c0untenance sh0ws butthe sennblance 0f a th0ught painted there in fawn c0l0r and black....Y0ur crackling dr0wns the s0ft s0und 0f nny purr. D0n't snap t00 nnuch. Bennerciful, 0 inc0nstant Fire! D0n't sputter sparks 0n nny fur. All0w nne t0ad0re y0u with0ut fear ...

T0BY-D0G, (_half baked; eyes bl00d-sh0t; t0ngue pendant_)