Sir Thomas of Argyle, Bane of Mice (10)

From THE OFFICIAL TRAVELOGUE OF SIR THOMAS CAT, ESQUIRE

Translated from the Meowish.
Copyright May 1983


This story is dedicated to my husband's Aunt Eleanor Campbell Taylor and Uncle Rumsey Taylor, Sr., of Princeton, Kentucky, USA, in whose home the enchantment of Inveraray is alive and well on this side of the Atlantic. May the rest of us who come along after be able to carry on and never lose that enchantment forever.

[Part 10]

And that is how the Duchess of Argyle came to receive her first ermine collar, a gift from the Duke, Chief Maynard, Dr. Woolsey, and Sir Thomas Cat. It made the collar all the more precious to her that so much ingenuity on the part of the former three, and so much suffering on the part of Sir Thomas, had made the trophy possible. Sir Thomas, meanwhile, had recovered sufficiently to leave the stone barn's veterinary area and to come back into the castle for her return. The Duke and Duchess invited Chief Maynard and his wife, Dr. Woolsey and his wife and children, and a few other close friends over to celebrate Sir Thomas's recovery and the now conclusive discovery of ermine in the area.

For the occasion, Sir Thomas was given his very  own chair among the high-backed navy velvet chairs at the linen-bedecked banquet table on the first floor, and sat just to the left of the Duchess. Sir George was assigned the chair to the left of Thomas, and was accompanied by his family, the Duke and Duchess of Loch Tul and their young son who, at around age ten, felt the watchtower would make a splendid hideout. The Duke made a stirring speech about old friends, new fortunes, and the inestimable value of cats. At the very end he gave a toast, "Here's to mud in the rye and a mouse under the eye!"

"Mud in the rye," which is an assurance of a good crop, symbolized good fortune to guests who raised grain, while "a mouse under the eye" meant a good fight now and then for guests who knew boxing as a sport. More than that, it meant the simple pleasures of home to those who owned good mousing cats. Since then, unfortunately, the Duke has been misquoted badly, and some people to this day say, "Here's to mud in the eye," thinking they are quoting the Duke.

The correct toast is still painted on a board above the serving area in Watchtower Restaurant in Scotland. Cats who visit there may dine on spring mousling virtually any time of year, thanks to freezing procedures and the occasional drop of packages by the Kildae Aire tranport service from the Hebrides. In the gift shop guests are allowed to purchase Argyle paw covers if they suffer from cold pawpads, or if their masters play golf, or if they simply want to remember that they, too, have visited Inveraray. The label reads: "Paw covers first designed for Sir Thomas of Argyle. Bane of Mice, Stoats, and Ermine. Wash in cold water and dry by the fire slowly."  (end)