"Well, dear mamma," he cried eagerly, and catching his breath, "I have played ball till my breath is as short as my nose. Is that enough?"
"Quite enough," said his mother, laughing. "Come and sit down, and in a few minutes, I hope, your breath will grow as long as your arm. I think I have a very nice story for you. It is about a fox and some other animals. It was written by a great author. As it is written, it will be almost _too old_ for a little fellow like you, but I will make it younger if I can."
"Oh, that will be excellent!" said Willie, sitting down by his mother and rubbing his hands in a great state of delight. "A fox--only think! Will he talk? I hope he will; and I hope there will be giants and fairies, and--and very good children, and very bad boys, and--oh, every thing!"
His mother laughed again, and said, "There are only animals in this story, but it is very long."
"That's perfect," cried Willie, "I could listen to stories all day and all night; I hope this will last twice as long as possible--I mean," continued he, as his mother laughed at "possible," "very long, indeed, you know."
And now he settled himself on his little bench by the side of his mother, and, folding his hands, fixed his blue eyes upon her face as she began:
"Once upon a time two very respectable cats, of very old family, had an only daughter, so amiable and beautiful that she was quite the belle of the place."
"Why, she was the best and most beautiful young lady, and received all the presents and attentions."
"Her skin was of the most delicate tortoiseshell; her paws were smoother than velvet; and her fine, white whiskers were twelve inches long, at the least; and then, above all, her eyes, instead of being green, were a lovely hazel, and so gentle that it was quite astonishing in a cat.
"When she was about two years and a half old she was left an orphan--poor thing! with a large fortune. Of course, she had a great many lovers who wanted to marry her; but, without troubling you with all the rest, I will come at once to the two rivals--the dog and the fox.
"Now Beppo, the dog, was a handsome, honest, straightforward, affectionate fellow; and he knew it, for he said:
"'I don't wonder at my cousin's refusing Bruin the bear, and Gauntgrim the wolf. To be sure, they give themselves great airs, and call themselves "_noble_;" but what then?--Bruin is always in the sulks, and Gauntgrim always in a passion. A cat, of any sense, would lead a miserable life with them. As for me, I am very good-tempered--when I am not put out; and I have no fault, that I know of, except that of being angry, and growling when I am disturbed at my meals. I am young and very good-looking, fond of play and amusement; and, altogether, as amiable a husband as a cat could find in a summer's day. If she marries me, well and good; if not, I hope I shan't be so much in love as to forget that there are other cats in the world.'