The 101 Dalmatians Read Free

cat,” said Mr. Dearly. “Go home, cat. You’ll get lost.”
    But the cat followed them all the way to their house.
    â€œPerhaps she’s hungry,” said Mrs. Dearly.
    â€œVery probably, unless she likes pepper,” said Mr. Dearly. He was still gulping the night air to cool his throat.
    â€œYou stroke her while I get her some food,” said Mrs. Dearly. And she went down the area steps and into the kitchen on tiptoe, so as not to wake Pongo and Missis, who were asleep in their baskets. Soon she came up with some milk and half a tin of sardines. The white cat accepted both, then began to walk down the area steps.
    â€œDoes she want to live with us?” said Mrs. Dearly.
    It seemed as if the white cat did. But just then Pongo woke up and barked loudly. The white cat turned and walked away into the night.
    â€œJust as well,” said Mr. Dearly. “Cruella would have the law on us if we took her valuable cat.”
    Then they went down into the kitchen to receive the full force of Pongo’s welcome. Missis, though sleepy, was fairly formidable too. There was a whirling mass of humans and dogs on the kitchen hearthrug—until Mrs. Dearly remembered, far too late, that Mr. Dearly’s dress suit would be covered with white hairs.
    It must have been about three weeks later that Missis began to behave in a very peculiar manner. She explored every inch of the house, paying particular attention to cupboards and boxes. And the place that interested her most was a large cupboard just outside the Dearlys’ bedroom. The Nannies kept various buckets and brooms in this cupboard, and there wasn’t a spare inch of space. Every time Missis managed to get in, she knocked something over with a clatter and then looked very ill-treated.
    â€œBless me, she wants to have her puppies there,” said Nanny Cook.
    â€œNot in that dark, stuffy cupboard, Missis, love,” said Nanny Butler. “You need light and air.”
    But when Mrs. Dearly consulted the Splendid Veterinary Surgeon, he said what Missis needed most was a small, enclosed place where she would feel safe, and if she fancied the broom cupboard, the broom cupboard she’d better have. And she’d better have it at once and get used to it—even though the puppies were not expected for some days.
    So out came the brooms and buckets and in went Missis, to her great satisfaction. Pongo was a little hurt that he was not allowed to go with her, but Missis explained to him that mother dogs like to be by themselves when puppies are expected, so he licked his wife’s ear tenderly and said he quite understood.
    â€œI hope the dinner party won’t upset Missis,” said Mr. Dearly, when he came home and found Missis settled in the cupboard. “I shall be glad when it’s over.”
    It was to be that very night. As there were quite a lot of guests, the food had to be normal, but Mrs. Dearly kindly put tall pepper-grinders in front of the de Vils. Cruella ground so much pepper that most of the guests were sneezing, but Mr. de Vil used no pepper at all. And he ate much more than in his own house.
    Cruella was busy peppering her fruit salad when Nanny Butler came in and whispered to Mrs. Dearly. Mrs. Dearly looked startled, asked the guests to excuse her, and hurried out. A few minutes later Nanny Butler came in again and whispered to Mr. Dearly. He looked startled, excused himself, and hurried out. Those guests who were not sneezing made polite conversation. Then Nanny Butler came in again.
    â€œLadies and gentlemen,” she said dramatically, “puppies are arriving earlier than expected. Mr. and Mrs. Dearly ask you to remember that Missis has never before been a mother. She needs absolute quiet.”
    There was an instant silence, broken only by a stifled sneeze. Then the guests rose, drank a whispered toast to the young mother, and tiptoed from the house.
    All except Cruella de Vil. When she