Ivy Compton-Burnett: Mother and Son

“I do not see how a cat can have wit,” said Miss Burke, who was accustomed to hold her own, and found it the best policy.

“Oh, he has made several bright remarks to me this morning,” said Miss Wolsey. “He came into my room in quite a facetious spirit. I could hardly keep up with him.”

“Favouritism!” said Miss Greatheart, shaking her head. “He did not come into mine. He has given no proof that he recognises me this morning.”

“Why do you call him ‘Plautus’?” said Miss Burke, encouraged by this simple statement of truth.

“Oh, because he is Plautus,” said Miss Wolsey. “Because the essence of Plautus is in him. How could he be called anything else?”

“Who was Plautus in real life?”

“Who could he have been but the person to give this Plautus his name?”

“He was a Latin writer,” said Miss Greatheart, as Miss Burke left a second question unanswered. “I think he wrote plays; not very good ones.”

“Why did you call the cat after him?”

“Well, he has not written any good plays either,” said Miss Wolsey, holding out her hand to Plautus, who came and considered it, as if in the hope of some offering.

“You think we are a silly trio, don’t you dear?” said Miss Greatheart.

Miss Burke took a moment to determine the third member of the group.

“You would not expect me to call Plautus silly?”

“Well, I think you have led us to expect it. How you despise us all, and how we shall admire you for it! We look up to people who look down on us. It is hard to see how we could avoid it, though I think Plautus does.”

Emma Greatheart gave the impression that everything about her was moulded on a generous scale, and that she did not dispute it or wish it otherwise. Her large, curved frame, full, grey eyes, lofty, aquiline features and undisguised marks of sixty years contributed to the effect, and her flowing garments accorded with the air of amplitude. Her large, fine hands looked as if they might be capable, if their owner willed it, but as if she did not do so.

Hester Wolsey was eleven years younger and looked spare beside her, though above the average size. She had dark, solid features and a general aspect of handsomeness that had gained her the name. The emotions of her deep, eager eyes were under her control. Her clothes were as successful and costly as she could contrive.

“No, you are not hungry, Plautus. You need not show that wistful face.”

“He has not finished his saucer of milk,” said Miss Burke, who had supplied him in this manner when he crossed her path.

“He does not drink much milk,” said Hester, disturbing her ideas. “But he knows there is fish for breakfast; so he does, the wise, wise man.”

Plautus walked to the table and stood with his face raised towards it.

“So he heard what you said,” said Emma, in a generous tone.

Miss Burke hardly felt she could deny it.

“Yes, you heard it indeed,” said Hester, speaking with her eyes on the cat. “You do not let a word of mine escape you.”

“One has to be quite careful what one says,” said Emma, suggesting the scope of Plautus’s attention.

Miss Burke, with an idea of establishing her position, offered Plautus a piece of fish.

“No, no, dear,” said Emma, leaning forward. “You will spoil his manners.”

Miss Burke looked up in question.

“His beautiful manners,” said Hester, bringing her no enlightenment. “Must not eat at meals.”

“When does he eat?” said Miss Burke.

“You did not know that Plautus had manners, did you dear?” said Emma, in sympathy. “You don’t understand a cat’s code.”

Miss Burke rose to remove the fish.

“Let me help you, dear,” said Emma, earnestly, leaning back in her chair.

Miss Burke carried the dish from the room, and Plautus, following the code referred to, unobtrusively followed her. Both ladies looked at her as she returned.

“Did you give him any fish?” said Hester.

“Yes, a great, big piece,” said Miss Burke, with a sense of catching the authentic note. “And he ate it all up; so he did, the understanding man.”

There was a pause that made her feel she had overreached.

“He will think you are making advances to him,” said Emma, in a neutral tone.

“He is not a cupboard lover,” said Hester. “He does not respond to bribes. Only real love for Plautus.”

“He will never get as fond of me as he is of you,” said Miss Burke, incautiously answering the thought behind the words.

“Plautus is fond of two people and no more. He does not dissipate his feeling. He will not welcome titbits from any hand but ours.”

Plautus returned to the room, paused for a moment by Miss Burke and proceeded to the fire.

“Ah, he is an actor,” said Hester. “He pretends he is like other cats, but he does not deceive us.”

“He deceived me,” said Miss Burke. “I do not see any difference.”

“Oh, naughty Plautus to deceive! Yes, you know you were doing it.”

“Well, Plautus, will you come with me to the kitchen? We shall soon understand each other, though you need more study than I thought.”

Plautus rose, looked earnestly at Miss Burke’s tray, and again accompanied her.

“He is a greedy puss,” said Emma, as though not repudiating truth.

“He is too kind to make differences between people,” said Hester. “But he knows them in his heart.”

“Now, Plautus, keep out of my way,” said Miss Burke, as she reached the kitchen. “I don’t want you round my legs while I am at work.”

Plautus approached and rubbed himself against the limbs in question.

“You understand nothing. You have no thoughts and no feelings. You are interested only in yourself, and you give me the shudders. You can remember it.”

Plautus raised his face towards her.

“You will get nothing more until you have finished your milk. I don’t like wastefulness, and I will not have it in a cat. Milk is your food, unless you are a wild beast. That is the truth about you.”

“Does he really upset you, dear?” said Emma, on Miss Burke’s return, as if she had divined this passage.

“No, of course he does not. He and I will be the best of friends. He is a beautiful cat.”

“Ah, the lady does not like you, Plautus. You must promise me not to worry her. Now look me in the face and promise.”

Emma held Plautus up before her, and he looked at nothing while he awaited his release, and on gaining it began to wash, as though to rid himself of some contamination.

“He is always licking himself,” said Miss Burke, in an equivocal tone.

“Yes, cats are the cleanest of creatures,” said Hester, in agreement.

“I know, dear, I know,” said Emma, leaning forward and laying her hand on Miss Burke’s. “Your heart is given to dogs.”

“I do not like animals in the house at all,” said Miss Burke, who was true to herself, and therefore perhaps could not be false to any man. “They are in the way and they make extra work.”

“And you have had enough work, you poor, dear, useful one. You must be so proud, and think we should be so ashamed. And now here is Hester threatening to rise to your level, and saying it is her duty, or her destiny or something puffed up. So tell her what you know about it, which must be all that is known, and spare her nothing.”

“Well, I know it is my destiny,” said Miss Burke.

“Well, tell her how nobly you fulfil it. Tell her what employers are like without meaning it, or even meaning it, which is quite unspeakable, though you have the courage to speak of it. And tell her how hurt Plautus is by the thought of her leaving him.”

Miss Burke was checked by the last suggestion.