Section 189. THE FAVOURITE HARES. III.
Reading edition
Finding him extremely tractable, I made it my[1] custom to carry him always after breakfast into the garden, where he hid himself generally under the leaves of a vine, sleeping[2] or chewing the cud till evening; in the leaves also of that vine he found a favourite repast[3]. I had not long habituated him to this taste of liberty, before[4] he began to be impatient for the return of the time[5] when he might enjoy it[6]. He would invite me to the garden[7] by drumming (S. 111, N. 6) upon my knee, and by (S. 185, N. 26) a look of such expression[8] as it was not possible to misinterpret. If the[9] rhetoric did not immediately succeed, he would take the skirt of my coat (S. 36, N. 7, A) between his teeth, and pull it with all his force[10]. Thus Puss might be said to be perfectly tamed[11]; the shyness of his nature was done away[12], and, on the whole[13], it was visible by many symptoms, which I have not room to enumerate[14], that he was happier in human society than when (S. 27, N. 7) shut up with[15] his natural companions.
Not so Tiny; upon him the kindest[16] treatment had not the least effect. He too was sick, and in his sickness had an equal share of my attention[17]; but when, after his recovery, I took the liberty to stroke him, he would grunt, strike with his fore feet, spring forward, and bite[18]. He was, however[19], entertaining in his way; even his surliness was matter of mirth[20], and in his play he preserved such an air of gravity[21], and performed his feats with such solemnity of manner[22], that in (an) him too I had an agreeable companion.