An Encounter in the Hall

[ndrosen]

I saw a couple of young ladies walking in the corridor of the apartment building, one of them carrying a black cat. I caught up with them, and, upon assurance that he was friendly, let the cat sniff my hand, and then petted him. I told the cat’s servant that it had been a long time since I had petted a cat; I sometimes pet dogs when I meet people walking them, but not cats.