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Colette, 1873-1954

"Barks and Purrs"

Directions, like: stay there, good-by.
TOBY-DOG
He said, "'Sh!" _I'm_ not making any noise.
KIKI-THE-DEMURE, (_ironically_)
They're astonishing! They say "no noise," and thereupon walk off with a
step a deaf rat could hear two miles away.
TOBY-DOG Some truth in that. (_He looks at the sleeping figure on the
couch_.) Her face still looks very small. She's asleep. If you jump down
from that table don't land with a big thump.
KIKI-THE-DEMURE, (_stiffly_)
Ah, you're teaching me to jump now, are you? Oh, worthy counselor!
(_quoting_) Put a beggar in your barn and he'll make himself your heir.
TOBY-DOG
What's that?
KIKI-THE-DEMURE
Nothing. An Oriental proverb. If I wished, dog, to disturb the silence
of this room I'd be clever enough to choose a rickety chair; its feet
would pound out a regular tic-toc, tic-toc, tic-toc, in time with my
tongue as I washed myself. It's a means I've invented to gain my
liberty. Tic-toc, tic-toc, says the chair. She happens to be reading or
writing, is easily irritated, and cries, "Be quiet, Kiki!" But I go on
unconscious of any wrong-doing; tic-toc, tic-toc.


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