`` How ? '' asked Demi , feeling that there was a peculiar charm about this old woman , and some sort of joke about the cats , because Dan was smiling to himself . `` A kind lady , who was fond of cats , told her how , and gave her some stuff , and sent all her own pussies to be killed that way . Marm used to put a sponge wet with ether , in the bottom of an old boot , then poke puss in head downwards . The ether put her to sleep in a jiffy , and she was drowned in warm water before she woke up . '' `` I hope the cats did n't feel it . I shall tell Daisy about that . You have known a great many interesting things , have n't you ? '' asked Demi , and fell to meditating on the vast experience of a boy who had run away more than once , and taken care of himself in a big city . `` Wish I had n't sometimes . '' `` Why ? Do n't remembering them feel good ? '' `` No . '' `` It 's very singular how hard it is to manage your mind , '' said Demi , clasping his hands round his knees , and looking up at the sky as if for information upon his favorite topic . `` Devilish hard no , I do n't mean that ; '' and Dan bit his lips , for the forbidden word slipped out in spite of him , and he wanted to be more careful with Demi than with any of the other boys . `` I 'll play I did n't hear it , '' said Demi ; `` and you wo n't do it again , I 'm sure . '' `` Not if I can help it . That 's one of the things I do n't want to remember . I keep pegging away , but it do n't seem to do much good ; '' and Dan looked discouraged . `` Yes , it does .
You do n't say half so many bad words as you used to ; and Aunt Jo is pleased , because she XXXXX it was a hard habit to break up . ''
's clasping feeling hope looking mean play remembering round said