But should either of the ladies ever take it into her head to
drive my brother out of the house with the broom, we shall at once leave
the country for Persia and Malta; for, after all, one's native land is
dear."
The princess stopped talking, and began to hum her Persian song, and
then the ladies entered the room. They greeted Dorothy kindly; then they
began to call, "Vashti, Vashti, come here, pretty Vashti," and, "Muff,
Muff, come here, pretty Muff." For they did not see the Persian
princess and the Maltese prince, but two beautiful cats, whose names
were Vashti and Muff.
"Just hear Vashti purr," said one of the ladies. "Come here, pretty
Vashti, and try your new cushion."
And the ladies saw a cat sitting on the rich cushion, and another cat
looking at her gravely, while Dorothy saw a Persian princess and a
Maltese prince.
However, the ladies knew that there was something uncommon about their
cats, and they sometimes suspected the truth themselves, but they
thought it must be a fancy.
Dorothy left her cushion and went away, and that was the last time she
ever saw the Persian princess. As she went out the door the princess
pressed close to her. The ladies thought she mewed, but in reality she
was talking.
"Good-bye, Dorothy," said she, "I hope you will live happily ever after.
And as for my brother and I, we really enjoy ourselves; we are seeing
the country and improving our minds, and we love the ladies.
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