The Cat and the Queen.

“There it is. I’ll catch it now,” said the little cat.Her tail twitched this way and that and her whiskers stood straight out.

The little mouse seemed to feel the little cat’s beady eyes and scurried towards the guard; under the guard’s legs and through the gate into the castle.

As quickly as she could,the little cat chased after the mouse.

“No you don’t,” growled the guard as he bent down to catch the little cat.He made a grab for her but she swerved to the left and the guard fell over.His helmet fell off and his sword rattled on the cobble stones.

“Oh well, let someone else in the castle catch the cat,” he grumbled, as he dusted himself off.

The little mouse raced along the long corridors;up the winding staircase;through many large roomsall full of paintings hanging on walls,and food on long tables.It heard the panting of the little cat chasing after it.Finally, the little mouse arrived at the very last and most important room.The Queen’s stately room.

There, in the middle of the room on a very high chair,sat her Majesty the Queen.She was surrounded by her ladies-in-waiting.

Sometimes the Queen had a bad temperand then everyone shook and quaked in their shoes.Other times,the Queen laughed and laughed at a joke and everyone laughed too.You’ve just had to be very careful how you acted when you were in the Queen’s presence in those far, far off days.

The little mouse scurried under the Queen’s chair.The cat rushed after it.Everyone looked scared.What would the Queen say? What would the Queen do?

Then the mouse ran out of the room.

But a strange thing happened.The little cat lay down under the Queen’s chair and purred happily.“What a pretty noise,” said the Queen, smiling.

Everyone smiled too and breathed a sigh of relief.The Queen was happy!

“Come here, little cat,” she said.

The Queen bent forward and picked the little cat up in her hands. Sheput the little cat on her lap; on the golden cloth that made up her beautiful gown.The little cat purred and purred,happily while the Queen stroked her.

Her majesty the Queen said out loud,“Little cat you’re welcome in my castle always,as long as you chase the mice away.”

The Queen laughed and everyone laughed.It was such a happy day.The court jester saw what was happening and made up a rhyme.This rhyme has been repeatedby children all down the ages.Do you know it?
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Pussycat, pussycat,where have you been?
I've been to London to visit the Queen.

Pussycat, pussycat,what did you there?
I frightened a little mouse under her chair.
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