Read Miranda the Great for Free Online

out."
    When Miranda was not watching, some cats teased Zag, particularly the brave little tiger cat who was too young to know he must feel sympathy. So Miranda resolved to take Zag back to their old home in the hope it was still there and that someone, a servant, anyone, might have returned.
    Miranda told Punka her plan, and Punka wanted to go, too. "No," said Miranda. "You must be in charge here while I am away. Guard it well, for it is our house now."
    "Wah," said Punka dolefully.
    "I'll try to bring something good back to eat, a little fish perhaps."
    "Wah," said Punka a little more cheerfully.
    "Come on, Zag," said Miranda. "We're going to take a walk. We're going home."
    Zag did not move. She lay on her side, panting heavily. Miranda touched her nose to Zag's. Dry, dusty, and hot ... very bad signs. And Zag could not get up. Miranda said, "Woe-woe! Marcus, Zaggie, Marcus!"
    Zag raised her head a little but lay back down again, prone. "I must get help," thought Miranda. "Or Zag will die of a broken heart. Punka," she said, "Zag is too weak to go. Take good care of her. I'll hurry back. But I must get help."
    Miranda gave Punka and Zag swift licks on their faces, took a last look at her little kittens, saw that they were all right, said good-by, and left. She turned only once. It is hard to leave your kittens even for an errand as important as this. "By," she said. "Woe-woe."
    Zag followed Miranda with her reddened sad eyes but otherwise did not move. And Punka wistfully said, "Wah!" She did not want to be in charge. "Wah!" she said again. She had wanted to go with her mother, and she would not leap when the kittens asked her to. They could never get enough of her sudden leaps and always said "mew-mew-mew" in delight and grinned. Instead, Punka watched her mother until the brave little figure disappeared from sight across the square. Miranda may have been a colossal cat, but even she looked small on the broad and bright
piazza.
    There wasn't a braver cat in the whole world, probably, than Miranda. Yet, as she made her way through the ruins and rubble, where tiny shoots of flowers and little weeds were already beginning to grow, she felt frightened. She was recalling the day of the terrible fire, and she almost wished she had not come. She hurried past the Forum, not liking the sound of the cats who had taken up residence there. She knew that now she was very near her old home ... if it had not been destroyed.
    At last she came to her street. Somewhat confused because many of the houses were in ruins and she had to steer around fallen columns, she stood stock-still to get her bearings. Suddenly she perked up her ears and a smile came over her face. She heard Lavinia whistling.
    Lavinia was whistling the special tune she had made up that always persuaded Miranda to come in or go out when all other inducements failed. Crouching beside a chunk of marble, Miranda listened. Then, unable as always to resist the special and compelling tune, she approached the house. Lavinia was standing in the doorway with Claudia on one side of her and Marcus on the other. The beautiful golden house was practically unhurt. The three had apparently just come home, and baskets with fruit and belongings were beside them. They had not yet caught sight of Miranda.

    "Woe-woe!" said Miranda plaintively.
    "I heard her! I heard her!" screamed Claudia, jumping up and down. "Miranda! Miranda! Where are you?"
    Miranda polished a paw to make sure she was tidy. Then she walked majestically out of the shadows, and purring loudly and vibrantly, she presented herself to the family.
    Claudia scooped her up in her arms and smothered her with kisses. Miranda gravely returned them with her moist little nose. "Miranda! Darling Miranda! I missed you so! I didn't know what had happened to you!"
    "That dirty cat is not Miranda," said Marcus.
    Claudia was indignant. "Of course it's Miranda," she said. "It's dear, beautiful, golden Miranda. I recognize her