A Sham Princess by Eglanton Thorne

BERT felt rather shamefaced as he scrambled off the chair and drew it on one side, that the sailor might enter the room. But the sight he saw as the door opened made him forget his self-consciousness. The cat sprang towards his master with a cry that was almost human, so clearly did it express delight. Then he began rubbing his head and body against the old man's legs, purring loudly the while. Finally the cat sprang on his master's shoulders and rubbed his head lovingly against his check.

"Good old Cetywayo," said the old man tenderly; "you're better than most Christians to forgive me thus. 'Twas a scurvy trick to leave you shut up here. The truth is, I clean forgot you. You slept so soundly under the bed that I never thought of you till after the train started. Then when I remembered that I must have locked you up here, I hadn't a moment's peace. I did not think that you would find such a kind friend. " And he turned to look for Bert.

"Come in, boy; come in. You must make the acquaintance of my cat, since you've been so good to him. Ah, Cetywayo does not like strangers," as the cat arched his back and retreated at the sight of Bert; "but he'll soon be friendly with you, if you treat him well. I've often seen you looking down on us; but I didn't want you to come any nearer, for boys are not friends to cats as a rule. But I see now that I wronged you."

"I like your cat," said Bert timidly; "but Prin does not like cats. I brought a kitten home once, but she would not let me keep it."

"Who's Prin? " asked his new acquaintance.

And presently Bert was telling him all his history, and the stranger learned with surprise that the boy and his sister had occupied that room before he came.

"Well, if I'd known that you would look after my cat, I need not have troubled to come back to-night. It's a long way to go and come in one day."

"Is Liverpool farther off than Hampshire? " asked Bert.

"Why, yes, a good bit farther I should say; but it's wonderful how them trains whirl you along. Now, I'm going to have some supper, and you must have some with me. Yes, yes, that's only fair, since you've been feeding my cat."

"Ah, but Mrs. Brown gave me the meat for him," said Bert.

"No matter. You had the trouble of feeding him," said the old man, liking the boy the better for the acknowledgment.

Bert watched with interest as the old man made up his fire and set the kettle on it, preparatory to making some cocoa.

"Did you go to Liverpool to see a friend, Mr. -? " he hesitated, not being sure of the name.

"I'm called Corney," said the sailor; "not that it's my real name, but it does as well as any other. My mother, who was a wonderful hand at Bible names, called me Cornelius Theophilus, and my mates soon shortened that into 'Corney. ' No, I didn't go to Liverpool to see a friend; I went to try to get some news of my sister; but I don't suppose it would have been any good if I'd stayed longer. All who knew her and me have disappeared."

"Then you had a sister, Mr. Corney?"

"Yes, I had a sister; and I don't know now whether she's living or dead. Her name was Priscilla. That's in the Bible, too, you know."

Bert did not know much about the Bible, nor was he desirous of such knowledge; but he was full of curiosity respecting this lodger, and anxious to make the most of this opportunity of gratifying it.

"But you've got a friend, haven't you, Mr. Corney? " he said.

"No," said Mr. Corney, looking sad and shaking his head; "I don't believe I have a friend left in the world."

"There's that one you're always singing about," said the boy. "Who's he?"