It was snow-white , with a bluish-gray spot on the tip of its tail ; and it was blue-eyed and deaf and delicate . Aunt Cynthia was always worrying lest it should take cold and die . Ismay and I used to wish that it would -- we were so tired of hearing about it and its whims . But we did not say so to Aunt Cynthia . She would probably never have spoken to us again and there was no wisdom in offending Aunt Cynthia . When you have an unencumbered aunt , with a fat bank account , it is just as well to keep on good terms with her , if you can . Besides , we really liked Aunt Cynthia very much -- at times . Aunt Cynthia was one of those rather exasperating people who nag at and find fault with you until you think you are justified in hating them , and who then turn round and do something so really nice and kind for you that you feel as if you were compelled to love them dutifully instead . So we listened meekly when she discoursed on Fatima -- the cat 's name was Fatima -- and , if it was wicked of us to wish for the latter 's decease , we were well punished for it later on . One day , in November , Aunt Cynthia came sailing out to Spencervale . She really came in a phaeton , drawn by a fat gray pony , but somehow Aunt Cynthia always gave you the impression of a full rigged ship coming gallantly on before a favorable wind . That was a Jonah day for us all through . Everything had gone wrong . Ismay had spilled grease on her velvet coat , and the fit of the new blouse I was making was hopelessly askew , and the kitchen stove smoked and the bread was sour . Moreover , Huldah Jane Keyson , our tried and trusty old family nurse and cook and general `` boss , '' had what she called the `` realagy '' in her shoulder ; and , though Huldah Jane is as good an old creature as ever lived , when she has the `` realagy '' other people who are in the house want to get out of it and , if they ca n't , feel about as comfortable as St. Lawrence on his gridiron . And on top of this came Aunt Cynthia 's call and request . `` Dear me , '' said Aunt Cynthia , sniffing , `` do n't I smell smoke ? You girls must manage your range very badly . Mine never smokes . But it is no more than one might expect when two girls try to keep house without a man about the place . ''
`` We get along very well without a man about the place , '' I XXXXX loftily .
came die discoursed gave liked listened said sniffing think wish