While living at her tiny cottage (something of her own that Aunt Agatha won't take), Jenny can't offer the tortoiseshell cat much, just a small saucer of milk that she normally keeps for tea, crumbs of ham sandwich on the rare days she can afford meat, and a basket by the Primus stove if it likes.

It comes and goes as it pleases, but the cat never shies away when Jenny pets its soft head, and when it stays the night, it always sleeps next her feet to them warm.

When she returns to her father's house at last, the tortoiseshell goes with her, the first of many loved ones to join her - after all, since that first saucer of milk, its home is wherever Jenny goes.