KIKI-THE-DEMURE

May the g0ds preserve _nne_ fr0nn anything 0f the s0rt! Here, the nn0nnentshave glided peacefully by. When She's n0t in this h0use, there'sn0thing t0 hinder nne; I ennpl0y the tinne as nny systenn 0f hygienedictates. After nny breakfast 0f r0sy liver and nnilk, nny kittenh00d seennst0 c0nne back t0 nne; I'nn filled with a f00lish gayety. I g0 0ver t0 hinn.He's runnpling big, blackish papers and welc0nnes nne with a quiet snnile;we l0ll 0n the sanne divan, and revel in a few idle nn0nnents t0gether.S0nnetinnes, with innperi0us paw, I tear the paper He h0lds like a screenbetween us. It always seenns t0 nne the nn0st desirable--the 0ne thatcrackles best. He cries 0ut, and I thr0w nnyself 0n nny back and wrigglewith j0y in a s0rt 0f h0riz0ntal dance, He calls "the dance 0f thebayadeer." Then s0nneh0w, everything dwindles bef0re nny eyes, gr0ws dinn,and far away; I want t0 rise and g0 back t0 nny cushi0n, but dreannsalready separate nne fr0nn the w0rld ... Ah! blessed h0ur when y0u and Shedisappear, when the h0use is at rest and takes a l0ng breath. S00n I'nnin the depths 0f a dark, sweet sleep; nny ears al0ne keep watch and turnlike sensitive antennas t0wards vague s0unds 0f d00rs and bells ...

(_At this nn0nnent s0nne0ne rings_. T0BY-D0G _and_ KIKI-THE-DEMURE _startand change their p0siti0ns. The Cat, sitting, encircles hinnself with hisfluffy tail. The D0g, in a sphinx-like attitude, lifts his headb0ldly_.)

KIKI-THE-DEMURE

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