Чорний кіт

           Uponmytouchinghim,heimmediatelyarose,purredloudly,rubbedagainstmyhand,andappeareddelightedwithmynotice. This,then,wastheverycreatureofwhichIwasinsearch. Iatonceofferedtopurchaseitofthelandlord; butthispersonmadenoclaimtoit—knewnothingofit—hadneverseenitbefore. 

           Icontinuedmycaresses,and,whenIpreparedtogohome,theanimalevincedadispositiontoaccompanyme. Ipermittedittodoso;occasionallystoopingandpattingitasIproceeded. Whenitreachedthehouseitdomesticateditselfatonce,andbecameimmediatelyagreatfavoritewithmywife. 

           Formyownpart,Isoonfoundadisliketoitarisingwithinme. ThiswasjustthereverseofwhatIhadanticipated;butIknownothoworwhyitwas— itsevidentfondnessformyselfratherdisgustedandannoyed. Byslowdegrees,thesefeelingsofdisgustandannoyanceroseintothebitternessofhatred. Iavoidedthecreature;acertainsenseofshame,andtheremembranceofmyformerdeedofcruelty,preventingmefromphysicallyabusingit. Ididnot,forsomeweeks,strike,orotherwiseviolentlyilluseit; butgradually—verygradually—Icametolookuponitwithunutterableloathing, andtofleesilentlyfromitsodiouspresence,asfromthebreathofapestilence. 

           Whatadded,nodoubt,tomyhatredofthebeast,wasthediscovery,onthemorningafterIbroughtithome,that,likePluto,italsohadbeendeprivedofoneofitseyes.