Section 188. THE FAVOURITE HARES. II.
Reading edition
Immediately commencing carpenter, I built[1] them houses to sleep in. Each leveret had a separate apartment, so contrived[2] that it could be kept perfectly sweet and clean[3]. In the daytime[4] the animals had the range[5] of the hall, and at night[6] retired each to his own bed, never intruding into that of another[7].
Puss grew presently familiar, would leap[8] into my lap, raise himself[9] upon his hinder feet, and bite the hair from my temples. He would suffer[10] me to take him up, and to carry him about in my arms, and has more than once fallen fast asleep upon my knees. He was ill three days, during which time I nursed him, kept him apart from his fellows, that[11] they might not molest him (for, like many other wild animals, they persecute[12] one of their own species that is sick), and by constant care[13], and with a variety of herbs, restored him to perfect health[14]. No creature could be more grateful than (S. 104, N. 19) my patient after his recovery, a sentiment which he most significantly expressed by licking[15] my hand, first the back of it[16], then the palm, then every finger separately[17], then[18] between all the fingers, as if (S. 27, N. 7) anxious to leave no part of it unsaluted; a ceremony[19] which he never performed but once again[20] upon a similar occasion.