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off. Then she took a walk upon the roofs of the town, looked out for opportunities, and
then stretched herself in the sun, and licked her lips whenever she thought of the pot of

fat, and not until it was evening did she return home.

‘Well, here you are again,’ said the mouse, ‘no doubt you have
had a merry day.’ Why did the Just a Minute!
cat lie to the mouse?
‘All went off well,’ answered the cat.

‘What name did they give the child?’

‘Top off!’ said the cat quite coolly.

‘Top off!’ cried the mouse, ‘that is a very odd and uncommon name, is it a usual one in
your family?’

‘What does that matter,’ said the cat, ‘it is no worse than Crumb-stealer, as your
godchildren are called.’

Before long the cat was seized by another fit of yearning. She said to the mouse: ‘You

must do me a favour, and once more manage the house for a day alone. I am again
asked to be godmother, and, as the child has a white ring round its neck, I cannot
refuse.’

The good mouse consented, but the cat crept behind the town walls to the church, and
devoured half the pot of fat. ‘Nothing ever seems so good as what one keeps to oneself,’

said she, and was quite satisfied with her day’s work.

When she went home the mouse inquired: ‘And what was Do you also trust
the child christened?’ people easily like the Let’s connect

‘Half-done,’ answered the cat. mouse? What happens
then?
‘Half-done! What are you saying? I never heard the name value acceptance

in my life, I’ll wager anything it is not in the calendar!’

The cat’s mouth soon began to water for some more
licking. ‘All good things go in threes,’ said she, ‘I am seized: to take hold of or grab something
suddenly and forcibly
asked to stand godmother again. The child is quite fit: a sudden, intense urge or longing for

black, only it has white paws, but with that exception, something
do me a favor: a polite way of asking
it has not a single white hair on its whole body; this someone to help or assist you with
something
only happens once every few years, you will let me consented: to agree or give permission
go, won’t you?’ to something
devoured: ate hungrily or quickly
‘Top-off! Half-done!’ answered the mouse, ‘they are wager: to bet

such odd names, they make me very thoughtful.’ exception: something which is not
included in general statement

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