Living with the Lama (1964)

CHAPTER FIVE

“Ah! Good Marnin' to ye,” said Pat the Postman when Ma and I answered the door to his ring. “Tis a wunnerful lot of letters I have for Himself this marnin’—nigh broke me back it did, carrying it up th' hill!” Pat the Postman was an old friend of ours. Many is the time the Guv picked him up in the car and drove him on his rounds when his legs were giving out with the walking. Pat knew everything and everybody in the district, and we picked up much local colour from him. I used to smell his trouser turn-ups so that I could read of his walk across the Head, or through the heather banks. I used to know, too, when Pat had had “a little drop” to keep him warm on his evening round.

Ma carried in the letters and I got on the Guv's bed so that I could help him read them. There WERE a lot this morning, letters from Japan, from India, from friends in Germany. A letter from—Dublin. There was the sound of an envelope being slit, and paper dragged out. “Hmm!” said the Guv, “The Irish Tax officials are as bad as the English. This Demand is absolute robbery. We cannot AFFORD to stay in Ireland.” He relapsed into gloomy silence. Ma hovered by the bedside. Buttercup came running up the stairs to see what was in the mail. “It amazes me,” said the Guv, “why the Irish Tax people do not try to keep people like us in the country instead of driving us out by excessive, savage taxation! We spend a lot here, but the Tax Office is never satisfied, they want to have their cake and eat it at the same time. We Authors are taxed more harshly than any other class over here.”

I nodded sympathetically, and pushed my head against the Guv's leg. He wanted to become an Irish Citizen, he LOVED the Irish—all except Irish Tax officials! That body, to the Guv, was a smell worse than an uncleaned tomcat tin, they were so unreasonable, so BLIND. The Guv reached out and tweaked one of my ears, “If it were not for you cats, Feef, we would go to Tangier, or Holland, or somewhere that welcomed us more. But you are our old Granny Cat, and I would not upset you if my life depended upon it.” “Phooey, Guv!” I replied, “YOU are talking! I'll stand as much as you will—and a bit more. My heart is sound!” “Yes, Feef,” he replied as he rubbed my chin and chest, “Your heart is sound, you are the nicest old Granny Cat ever.” “Maybe,” I answered, “You and I will pass over at the same time and then won't be parted. I'd LIKE that!”

We were all a bit gloomy for the rest of the day. Clearly it was a waste of time to try to live in Ireland if the Tax Officials were going to take all. We had enough trouble without that; the Press men were always snooping around, sometimes watching the house through binoculars and holding mirrors on poles to the bedroom windows. The Press had published untrue stories about the Guv and at no time allowed him to give HIS side of things. The Guv looks at Pressmen as being the scum of the Earth; I know, I have heard him say so often enough! From what Miss Ku told me I know that he is fully justified.

“I'm going up to Mrs. O'Grady's to telephone Brud Campbell,” said Ma, “I see that someone has forced the lock on the back gate and it must be repaired.” “Oh! I expect it was those tourists from Liverpool,” replied the Guv, “Brud told me that his Father had had tourists camping in his front garden.” Ma went off up the road just as Miss Ku called me from the kitchen and said that there was a very nice lunch ready for us. I went down the stairs and was met at the bottom by Miss Ku. “Here you are, Feef,” she said, “I have persuaded Buttercup to give us ours early so that we can go into the garden and see if the flowers are growing all right. She groaned a bit, but did the Right Thing in the end. Tuck in!” I could always “tuck in”. I LOVED food and always believed in eating in order to build up one's strength. Now I weighed all of seven pounds and had never felt better. I found my way about without trouble, too! The Guv showed me how. “You are a silly old dope, Feef,” he said. “How's that Guv?” I asked. “Well, you are blind, yet in the astral you can see. Why not, when you rest, go into the astral plane so that you can see if anything has been shifted? Why not have a jolly good look over the place. You cats don't use the brains you were born with!” The more I thought about it the more I liked it, so I cultivated the habit of astral travelling whenever I rested. Now I do not get bumps or bruises, I know the location of almost everything.

“Brud's come!” called Ma. Ku and I were delighted, it meant that now we could get in the garden, because the Guv always went out and talked to Brud Campbell and talked while he worked. We rushed to the door, and Miss Ku told the Guv he should take a tonic as he was SLOWING UP. “Slowing up?” he replied, “I could catch you at any time!”

At first the layout of the house had puzzled me because one entered by the top floor and the ground floor was below the level of the road. Miss Ku explained it to me, “Well, you see we are perched on the side of the cliff like a lot of broody hens. The cliff slopes down from the road, with a wall to keep people falling off. Anyway, this house used to be two flats until we came and knocked it into one!” We had plenty of room in the house and in the garden. There were two gardens, one at each side of the house. Formerly the upstair tenants had had the right garden and the downstair tenants the left. We had the lot. There were trees with low branches, but I was never allowed out alone because the Family always had the fear that I would fall over the cliff or climb a tree and fall off. Of course I would not have fallen, really, but it was nice to have people care that much about me. Buttercup used to sit in the garden and sun herself, making her yellow top yellower, as Miss Ku put it. We liked her to be in the garden because she often forgot about us and we could explore more. Once I went to the side of the cliff and tried to climb down. Miss Ku very hurriedly called the Guv and he came and lifted me back before I could fall.

We had to be careful when we were out in the garden for yet another reason; people used to hang around trying to get photographs of the Lama. Cars used to stop alongside the garden walls, and people would clamber over so that they could see where Lobsang Rampa lived. One sunny afternoon the Guv looked out of a window and saw women having a picnic on the lawn! They were most annoyed where he went out and moved them off. Most residents on the scenic roads of Howth had similar experiences, trippers thought they could go anywhere, do as much damage as they wished, and leave their litter for others to clean up.

“Feef, I have just heard the Guv and Ma talking,” said Miss Ku. “Where is Morocco?” “Morocco? Miss Ku, why, that will be Tangier, a place in the Mediterranean area. I was taken there by Mme. Diplomat. We nearly went to live there. It is hot, smelly, and even the fish are smugglers!” I knew the place, all right! I had been taken there on a ship from Marseilles, and was sea-sick all the time. I had been able to see in those days, and the fierce natives in their soiled robes had frightened me quite a lot. I hoped that we would not be going to Tangier!

Miss Ku and I slept through the afternoon. The Guv and Ma had gone to Dublin and Buttercup was busily engaged in cleaning out her bedroom. We knew we should not be able to get out, so we slept and did a bit of astral travelling. Like women the world over, whether they be women cats or women humans I had FEARS. I lived in fear that I would some day wake up, and find myself in some suffocating, stinking box at an Airport. Of course, when I was awake, and heard voices, had people touch me and make a fuss of me, I knew that all the bad past was indeed the past, but in sleep, one fears nightmares. Often in the night the Guv would take me in his arms and say “Now! Now! Feef, don't be such a silly old thing, OF COURSE you are home and you are going to stay with us for the rest of your life.” Then I would purr and smile to myself and feel reassured. Then I would fall asleep and have nightmares all over again!

“Feef! They are back, they are driving up the hill!” Miss Ku wheeled around and raced me to the front door. We got there just in time as the car drew up. Miss Ku got in the car to help the Guv put it away and see that the garage was properly locked. Then she had to walk back along the high wall to be sure that snails were not eating away the cement! She jumped over the green gate and yelled at the door, “Open up! Open up! We are here.” Then the Guv caught up with her and opened the door and in they came.

“Well?” said Buttercup, when we were all sitting down. “How did you get on?” “A waste of time,” said the Guv. “We went to the Moroccan Embassy but the fellow there was most unhelpful. We shall NOT be going to Tangier.” They lapsed into silence, and I purred to myself with pleasure at the thought NO Morocco. “We saw Mr. and Mrs. Vet in Dublin,” said Ma. “They are coming out tomorrow to have tea with us” I felt gloomy, Mister the Irish Vet was a nice man, a very kind and pleasant man, but no vet, no matter how good, is a hero to his cat patients. Miss Ku frowned, “Ears, Feef, ears! Let's get out of it tomorrow or we shall have our ears done.” The Family went on talking discussing what to do, where to go. We wandered out of the room and down the stairs in order to get our tea.

Mister the Irish Vet arrived with Mrs. the Irish Vet. We liked him a lot, but his clothes smelled terribly of animals' insides and drug-things. Mister the Irish Vet was very interested in a big telescope the Guv used to look at far-distant ships. Miss Ku and I were hidden beneath an armchair which had a frill around it, and we listened to all that was said.

“Fifi is doing very well,” said the Guv. “Ah! Sure she is,” said Mister the Irish Vet. “Do you think she would stand a journey to Cork, or to Belfast?” asked the Guv. “She would indeed!” said Mister the Irish Vet, “She would stand anything so long as she knew she was wanted. She is in better health than you, anyhow!” “Hear! Hear! I muttered to myself, “All I want is to be wanted and I can stand anything.” They went out into the garden and set up the big telescope. Miss Ku rushed up to hide behind the window frame so that she could see out without being seen. “They are looking at a ship, Feef,” said Miss Ku. Then, suddenly, “HIDE! They are coming in!” There was the scraping of feet on the doormat and then they came in. “Have you seen the cats today?” asked the Guv. “Only their tails disappearing round the corner,” said Mister the Irish Vet. “Sure an’ I'm proud of Fifi,” he went on, “She was a very good Mother. I have been down and examined the kittens. They are doing FINE!” I started to purr with pleasure. Miss Ku hissed, “Shut up, you old fool! They will hear you!”

That night the Guv was ill, more ill than usual. Something had gone wrong inside him. I thought perhaps he had the same trouble as I had had and said so to Miss Ku. “Feef.” she replied, half amused, half cross, “How could the Guv possibly have a uterine tumour? You are even more feeble minded than I thought, Feef!”

The next day he went to see Doctor, the Irish Specialist. A taxicab came to the door and off the Guv and Ma went, off down the hill, round the corner out of Miss Ku's sight and on to Dublin. Time dragged on. Time crawled slower and slower; we were worried. At last Miss Ku detected the sound of a car labouring up the hill. Gears were changed, the car speeded up, and then slowed and stopped at the door. Ma and the Guv came in, the Guv looking paler and more worn than usual, and Miss Ku hastily whispered to me. We moved aside in order not to get in the way, but the Guv—ill or not—always had time and energy to stoop and talk to “his children.” I felt the lack of vitality in his hands as he caressed me, and I felt sick in my stomach with the worry. Slowly he went into his bedroom and went to bed. That night Miss Ku and I took turns to stay awake with him.

Yes, I know that many humans will laugh at that, thinking that “animals” have no sense, no reason, no feelings for others, but humans are animals as well! Miss Ku and I understand all and every word said or thought. We understand humans, but humans do not understand us, nor do they try to, preferring to regard us as “inferior creatures,” “dumb animals,” or the like. We do not make war on each other, nor do animals kill needlessly but only in order to eat. We do not torture nor put our fellows in concentration camps. We—Siamese Cats—have probably the highest intelligence quotient of all animals. We feel, we love and often fear, but never hate. Humans never have the time to investigate our intelligence for they are too busy trying to make money by any fair or unfair means which presents itself. The Guv knows us as well as he knows himself. He can talk to us by telepathy as well as Miss Ku and I talk. And we can (and do!) talk to him. As the Guv says, humans and animals could talk together by telepathy in the days of long ago but Mankind abused the privilege and so lost the power. Animals still have that power.

Days grew into weeks and the Guv did not improve. There was talk now of a Nursing Home, an operation. And all the time he grew paler and had to rest more. Miss Ku and I were very quiet, very concerned nowadays and did not press to go in the garden. We mourned in private and tried to conceal our fears from the Guv.

One morning after breakfast, when I was sitting on the bed with him and Miss Ku was in the window telling the seagulls not to make such a noise, the Guv turned to Ma and said, “Read this article. It tells of the wonderful opportunities in Canada. Apparently Writers, Artists, Doctors—EVERYONE is wanted. Might be the place for us, what do you think?” Ma took the article and read it. “READS all right,” she said, “But I don't trust any of these articles. I thought you wanted to go to Holland? You are not well enough, anyhow!”

“We can't stay here,” said the Guv, “The Irish Tax people make it impossible. Sheelagh!” he called to Buttercup. The Guv always followed the Eastern custom of consulting the whole family. “Sheelagh,” he asked, “What do you think of Canada?” Buttercup looked at him as if he were not quite right in his head. Miss Ku worked overtime giving me a running commentary on the things I could not see. “Gee!” she said in a whisper, “Buttercup thinks he is so ill he does not know what he is saying. Canada? CANADA? HO-LY!”

Later in the morning the Guv got out of bed and dressed. I could sense that he did not know what to do. Calling Miss Ku and lifting me across his shoulder he walked out into the garden. Slowly he walked down the garden path and stood looking out to sea. “I'd like to stay here for the rest of my life, cats,” he said, “but the Tax men here make such extortionate demands that we HAVE to move in order to live. Would you two like to go to Canada?” “Gee, Guv,” said Miss Ku, “We will go anywhere you say.” “Yes, I am well enough to travel,” said I, “I am willing to go anywhere, but you are not well enough.”

That evening the Guv had to go to Doctor, the Irish Specialist again. He returned hours later, and I could tell that the news was bad. However he still had a discussion about Canada. “The Canadian Ministry of Immigration are advertising in the papers,” he said, “Let us send for some details. Where is the Embassy?” “Merrion Square,” said Buttercup.

Several days later wads of advertising stuff came from the Canadians in Dublin. The Family settled down to read the whole lot. “They make a lot of promises,” said the Guv. “Yes but this is only advertising stuff,” said Ma. “Why not, call at the Embassy?” asked Buttercup. “Yes,” replied the Guv, “We must be very sure that the cats will be welcomed, I would not consider it if they had to go in quarantine or anything like that. Quarantine is an evil thing anyhow.”

The Guv and Ma went out in the Humber and drove away to Dublin. The morning dragged on; time always drags when the future is uncertain and when loved ones are absent. At last they returned. “Red tape! Red tape!” said the Guv, “it always amazes me that such petty officials are so unpleasant. I'd like to put some of these fellows across my knee and slap their –” “But you don’t want to take any notice of them” said Ma. “They are only clerks and know no better.” Miss Ku sniggered and whispered, “The Old Man could beat 'em up and like it! His arms are far far stronger than those of Westerners, and he has had to fight a lot. Gee. I'd like to see him beat 'em up!” she sighed. The Guv WAS big, there was ample room for Miss Ku and me to sit on him together. Nearly two hundred and thirty pounds, it was all muscle and bone. I like big people, probably because I never had enough food to permit me to grow to my full size.

“We filled in all the forms, had our finger prints taken, and all that rubbish,” said the Guv to Buttercup. “Tomorrow I am going to take you in to see them. You have to go as our adopted daughter. Otherwise you have to have a certain sum of money, someone to guarantee you, or some other bilge. The Canadians we have seen so far appear to be very childish.” “You forgot to say that we all have to go for a medical examination”, said Ma. “Yes,” replied the Guv, “We will ask Mrs. O'Grady if she will stay with the cats, I'm not leaving THEM alone for anybody, they mean more to me than the whole of Canada put together.” Lunch was ready, so we attended to that first, I always believed that one could discuss things more calmly after a good meal. We lived well, nothing was too good for us cats. Miss Ku was—and is—a very small eater; she took the utmost care of her figure and she was indeed a most elegant and delightful young woman cat.

“Hey!” called the Guv, “Mrs. O'Grady is coming down the road.” Ma hastened out to intercept her and bring her in. Miss Ku and I went downstairs to find out what Buttercup was doing, we hoped that she would be sitting in the garden, because then we would be able to go out and do some gardening. I had planned for some time to uproot a few plants so that I could be sure they were growing satisfactorily. Miss Ku had her mind set on looking at Mister Rabbit's house. He lived in a hole in the cliff side and often by night he came past our windows and laughed at us for being in the house. We both wanted to have a few words with him about his uncivil manner. However, it was not to be, Buttercup was doing something in her room, so we wandered along and sat in the room where we stored our cases.

The next morning was a busy one. The Guv took us out early so that we could have our say with Mister Rabbit. Miss Ku descended the cliff face about twelve feet and shouted her message through his front door. I lay across the Guv's shoulder—he would not let me go down—and shouted down to Miss Ku the things I wanted to say. We were very cross at Mister Rabbit. Then we had to do our claws on one of the trees. We had to be just right so that we could look after Mrs. O'Grady when the Family were in Dublin. We each took a bath in the dust at the end of the garden, rubbing it well into our fur, then we were ready for a five-minute wild chase round the garden. I followed Miss Ku closely because in that way she guided me and I did not bump into anything. We always took the same path, so I knew all the obstacles.

“Come on in, you savages!” said the Guv. Shuffling his feet and pretending to be fierce he got Miss Ku to run as fast as she could into the house. Lifting me and slinging me across his shoulder he carried me in and shut the door after. “Quick! QUICK! Feef,” called Miss Ku, “There is a new grocery box here, it is full of news!” The Guv put me down, and I hastened to the box so that I could read of the latest news from the shop in the village.

The Family were ready to go. Tweaking our ears, the Guv said goodbye to us and told us to look after Mrs. O’Grady. “Okay!” said Miss Ku, “She will be safe with us, should we put the chain on the door?” For a moment I thought of suggesting that Mr. Loftus should be asked to come and look after her but then I realised that the Guv would have done that if he had considered it necessary. Mrs. O'Grady settled herself down, and Miss Ku said, “Come on, Feef, now is the time to do a few of those jobs which we can't do when the Family is here.” She turned and led the way downstairs. We went round the house thoroughly to make sure that Mister Rabbit had not broken in to steal anything. Every so often Miss Ku would say, “I'll just slip upstairs and see that Ve O'G is doing all right. We simply MUST look after her.” Off she would go, clattering up the stairs, deliberately making a noise so that Ve O'G would not feel spied upon. Each time Miss Ku would return and say, “Yep! She is all right” Time dragged—worse—time seemed to be going backwards. “Do you think they are all right, Miss Ku.” I asked for the thousandth time. “Of course they are all right, I've been through things like this before. OF COURSE they are all right!” she exclaimed, trying to convince herself. Only by the nervous twitching of the tip of her tail did she betray any emotion. “You know quite well that they have to go to see a doctor, all three have to be examined, and then they have to go to a hospital to have their lungs X-rayed.” She nervously licked a hand, muttering ‘tut-tut, tut-tut’ as she surveyed her well manicured claws.

We could not face up to food. Food never took the place of love! As I fretted away I recalled my dear Mother's words to me, “Now now, Fifi,” she had said, “keep calm under all circumstances. Worry never solved a single problem; if you are busy worrying you have not the time to see the way out of a difficulty.” “Do you think they are all right, Feef?” asked Miss Ku. “Yes, Miss Ku,” I replied, “I am sure they are on the way home now.” “Poor Mrs. O'Grady,” said Miss Ku, “I think we should go upstairs and comfort her.” We rose and made our way along the corridor, Miss Ku leading and I following in her footsteps. Together we mounted the stairs and proceeded along the upper corridor, then flung ourselves with yells of joy at the door as it opened and The Family came in.

The hospital had soon detected the Guv's scars, had soon detected that he had had T.B. (Tuberculosis, short for tubercle bacillus) and a myriad of other complaints. “I will put in a recommendation that you be permitted to go,” said the hospital doctor, “for with your education and writing ability you would be an asset to Canada.” More days passed, and then the Guv had a letter which said he could go to Canada if he would sign this and sign that and report to the Medical Officer of Health in Canada. The Guv was so cross about all the silly red tape that he almost tore up the papers, unfortunately (as we now think) he just signed them with a shrug of his shoulders.

“How are we going to get the cats there?” asked Ma. “They will go with us in the plane or NONE of us will go. I'm SICK of all these fool Regulations!” said the Guv. For days they tried different airlines in an attempt to locate one which would permit us to travel with The Family instead of being in a dark and cheerless luggage hold. At last Swissair line agreed that if the Guv had The Family travel by first class, and paid BAGGAGE RATES on Miss Ku and me we could be in the first-class compartment with them, provided that we all traveled when there were many empty seats. The Guv made it clear that he was not going to be parted from us, so he paid all the many pounds demanded. Then he had another thought; we were going to fly direct to Idlewild Airport, New York instead of flying to Montreal. If a Canadian airline had taken us we should have had the shorter route across Canada, but as Swissair flew direct to New York we had no choice. The question now was, Swissair would take us in the passenger compartment, but would the American line which would have to take us from New York to Detroit? The Guv had a fear that unless everything was settled first, we would be stuck at New York without means of transport. Our affairs were being handled by a Travel Agent in Dublin, so the Guv had him make a definite enquiry of the American line, and if they agreed, book and pay first-class fares from New York to Detroit, and hire a car to take us across the American-Canadian Border to Windsor where we were going to live.

The Agent checked, and finding that the Airline in New York agreed to have us in the passenger compartment, paid all the fares. “So,” he said, “there is nothing more to worry about. Now you have to take these receipts to the Embassy, show them that you have enough money to live in Canada until you find work, and that is all there is to it. Thanks for your custom. If you want to come back at any time I shall be pleased to handle it for you.” Once again the Guv and Ma went to the Canadian Embassy where they showed that everything was in order. “Got a veterinarian's certificate to show that the cats are in good health?” asked a surly clerk. “Yes!” said the Guv, producing the required papers. Now, with nothing more to complain about, the officials had to issue the necessary permission to enter Canada as a “landed immigrant.” As the Guv now says, ruefully, “We were ‘landed’ all right!” With the papers in order, the Guv and Ma returned, tired out, to us at Howth.

“Now, Cats,” said the Guv, “when we leave you will have to be in your baskets, but as soon as we are in flight you can come out and sit with us. All clear?” “All clear, Guv,” said Miss Ku, “we shall want to come out, mind!” “Sure you shall come out, now stop worrying, you have cost me about your weight in gold!” Then he thought a minute and added, “and you are both worth every bit of it.” Mister the Irish Vet knew some blind Irish humans who made baskets, so the Guv had a basket each made for Miss Ku and me. Each was the absolute maximum size and gave us ample room. The Guv suggested that we use the baskets as bedrooms for a week or so in order to become accustomed to them. We did so, and it was fun!

The Guv's health worsened. By all the laws of common sense we should have given up the Canadian trip. Instead the Guv went to Doctor the Irish Specialist again and something was done whereby he could keep going. He had to rest more and more and I, knowing what it was to be ill and old, feared greatly for the outcome of it all. The Guv had had hardships and suffering in many lands and now the results of those hardships were showing. Miss Ku and I looked after him as best we could.

“How are we going to get to Shannon?” asked Buttercup. “NOT in the Irish train,” replied the Guv, “we should have to change at Limerick, and I do not feel up to that. You and Ma go to Dublin and see if you can get a garage to drive us down in a Minibus or something” “We will go down a day early,” said Ma, “because you need a day's rest before going aboard the plane. It will be better for the cats, too.” Off they went to Dublin, leaving Miss Ku and me to sit on the Guv in order to keep him in bed. As we all waited for Ma and Buttercup to return the Guv told us stories of cats he knew in Tibet.

“It is all arranged,” said Ma, “they are willing to take us and they have a Minibus which they use for sightseeing tours. The man who will drive often goes to Shannon to meet American tourists.” Now there was little to be done. The Guv had to go yet again to Doctor the Irish Specialist. All our preparations were being kept very secret because the Press gave us no peace. I remember a short time before, when the Guv had been very ill and was going out for the first time to see the Specialist. As soon as the Guv walked out of the door, a Pressman drove up and started asking him impertinent questions. It always amazed the Guv why pressmen should think they had some sort of divine right to ask questions. “Paid gossips” the Guv called them, and he would dearly have liked to throw them over the cliff.

“Hey! Irish Rabbit!” yelled Miss Ku, some twelve feet down the cliff face. “Rabbit! We are going away so don't you wreck the garden in our absence.” Mister the Irish Rabbit did not answer. Miss Ku contented herself with breathing hard down the hole and then, she rushed up to the top of the cliff again. “Birds! BIRDS!” shrieked Miss Ku, “Birds we are going to fly like you, we are going to fly further.” “Hush, hush! Miss Ku,” I remonstrated, “We are supposed to be keeping this a secret. Now all the birds and Mister the Irish Rabbit know.” Miss Ku looked over her shoulder, and I felt her stiffen. “BOLT! Feef,” she exclaimed, “Follow me Old Vet Face is coming!” We rushed indoors, out through the kitchen and into the coal cellar. “Whew!” shuddered Miss Ku, “I can almost feel my ears tingle at the thought of having them cleaned.” Stealthily Miss Ku put her head round the corner, found the coast was clear, and ventured out. Voices. Voices at the head of the stairs. “Tranquilizers,” said Mister the Irish Vet. “Give them one each of these before taking them on the plane and they will rest peacefully, special tranquilizers they are.” There was silence for a time, then the Guv said, doubtfully, “Will they be all right for Feef?” “Oh sure they are all right for her, all right for us too,” said Mister the Irish Vet. They wandered into a room and we heard no more. Certainly we were not going to risk our ears by venturing closer and getting caught. Mister the Irish Vet was VERY efficient at cleaning ears.

Cases had been sent off to be put aboard a ship. Clothes, books, some photographic equipment, and a new electric typewriter which the Guv had bought just before deciding to emigrate. Now the luggage which we were going to take was stacked in the hall. Not much, because one could not take much by air. Miss Ku and I each took our own personal Toilet Tin, an ample supply of Peat Moss (which we used in place of earth), and a comforting quantity of food. WE were not going to be hungry! The Guv sat talking to Mrs. O'Grady. Mr. Loftus was standing outside looking quite pale and worried. Slowly Miss Ku and I wandered through the soon-to-be-deserted house, saying farewell to loved pieces of furniture. Miss Ku jumped on to a window sill and shouted “Goodbye, Mr. Rabbit, goodbye birds.”

“The bus is here!” said Ma. Willing hands took the cases and stowed them in the back of the bus. Mr. and Mrs. O'Grady tried to make jokes to lighten the parting. Dear old Mr. Loftus stood sadly by, surreptitiously wiping his eyes with the back of his hands. Slowly the Guv looked over the house to make sure nothing was left, then wearily he locked the front door and withdrew the key, passing it to Mr. O'Grady to send to the Solicitor who was going to see to the disposal of the house. Shaking hands with the O'Gradys and Mr. Loftus once again, the Guv turned away and entered the bus. The door slammed. Slowly the bus rolled down the hill, away from the physical presence of the best friends we had in the world. We turned the corner, and started off to life.