“You have.  After Sophronisba’s death, Mandy took her in; or rather, Mandy was afraid to turn her out, for it’s bad luck to cross a witch’s cat.  In return for this charity the hussy immediately foisted upon us two wholly unnecessary kittens.  Mandy wouldn’t allow them to be decently drowned, for it’s worse luck yet to tamper with a witch’s cat’s kittens, particularly when they’re as black as the hinges of Gehenna.  Mandy thinks their mother had them black as a delicate mark of respect for the late crone.”

“Send them over, please.  Black cats will just go with this house.  It was very thoughtful of that cat to have two black kittens ready for us, and very kind of you to let them stay with you until we came.”

“I?  I abhor the whole tribe of cats!” cried the doctor.  “Don’t thank my kindness:  thank Mandy’s idiocy, of which she has more than her just share.  To my mind, the best place for cats is under the grape arbor.”

“Let us strike a bargain.  You keep your chickens in your own yard, and we’ll keep our cats in our own house.”

“Compromise:  you get a dog,” suggested the doctor.

“Perhaps I may.  I’ve always wanted a poodle.”

“I said a dog!” said the doctor, lifting his lip.  “A poodle!  In Hynds House!  The lamented Sophronisba had a bloodhound.”

“The lamented Sophronisba could have what she chose.  This Sophronisba prefers a poodle.”

“Sophronisba? What!  Another one?  Good God!” cried the doctor.  “All right!  Get a poodle.  Keep the cats.  Get a parrot—­and an orphan with the itch—­and a hyena—­and a blunderbuss! Her name is Sophronisba!—­I—­oh, Lord, where’s Jelnik?  I have got to go and warn Jelnik!” And he made for the door.

At that Alicia laughed.  Peal upon peal, like silver bells, irrepressibly, infectiously, irresistibly, Alicia laughed.  She cries with her eyes open and her mouth shut, and she laughs with her eyes shut and her mouth open.  The effect is beyond all words enchanting.  The doctor paused in his headlong flight.

“All right:  laugh!” he said, darkly.  “But I shall warn Jelnik, none the less!” And muttering:  “Sophronisba! Lord have mercy on us! Sophronisba!” he departed hastily.

“What a nice neighbor!” commented Alicia.  She added, musingly:  “Sophy, this is an enchanted place—­a place where one has good meals, bad advice, and black cats showered on one, free and gratis.  All one has to do is to stand still and take things as they come!”

“And hope one won’t follow in the footsteps of one’s predecessor, who was an unmitigated old devil.”

“At least,” said Alicia, laughing, “he’ll never live to be an old woman, will he, Sophy?”

“The man has the tact of a cannibal—­”

“The shoulders of a Hercules—­”

“An abominable temper—­”

“And a beautiful beard.  Somehow, Sophy, I rather approve of a beard, on somebody his size.  I decidedly approve of a beard!”