plumage with a tender forefinger, and held it out for Anne Boucicault's inspection. She peered at it curiously and rather coldly. "It's very sweet," she said, "but wouldn't it be kinder to put it out of its misery?" "It's very sweet," she said, "but wouldn't it be kinder to put it out of its misery?" "Rather not. Besides"—his eyes twinkled in Meredith's direction—"it's not my business to put people out of their misery. And I'd rather keep this little chap alive than some men I know of. He's one of creation's top-notes. He's a poem all to himself. He wants to live and he's a right to live, and he's going to. His wing'll mend. I've mended dozens. It's an instinct—mending. I've got a baby cheetah with a broken paw at my diggins——" "Rather not. Besides"—his eyes twinkled in Meredith's direction—"it's not my business to put people out of their misery. And I'd rather keep this little chap alive than some men I know of. He's one of creation's top-notes. He's a poem all to himself. He wants to live and he's a right to live, and he's going to. His wing'll mend. I've mended dozens. It's an instinct—mending. I've got a baby cheetah with a broken paw at my diggins——" Compton laughed hilariously at his wife's grim disapproval. Compton laughed hilariously at his wife's grim disapproval. "I don't believe you could drown a kitten," she said. "I don't believe you could drown a kitten," she said. "Why on earth should I want to drown a kitten?" He put his protégé tenderly back in its impromptu nest. "I brought two tabbies from England, and there are a lot more now. The whole village looks after them. They believe they're a specially imported sort of devil, and take every opportunity to propitiate them with edible offerings. It's great!" "Why on earth should I want to drown a kitten?" He put his tenderly back in its impromptu nest. "I brought two tabbies from England, and there are a lot more now. The whole village looks after them. They believe they're a specially imported sort of devil, and take every opportunity to propitiate them with edible offerings. It's great!" Mrs. Compton looked helpless. Mrs. Compton looked helpless.
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