第23章黑猫（3）
&asIsat，halfstupefied，inadehaninfamy，myattentionwassuddenlydrawntosomeblackupontheheadofoheimmensehogsheadsofGin，orofRum，whistitutedtheitureoftheapartment。Ihadbeenlookithetopofthishogsheadforsomeminutes，andwhatnowcausedmesurprisewasthefactthatIhadnotsooheobjectthereupon。Iapproachedit，ahmyhand。Itwasablackcat—averylargeone—fullyaslargeasPluto，andclhimioohadnotaonanyportionofhisbody;butthiscathadalarge，althoughichofwhite，earlythewhio。
Uponmytoughim，heimmediatelyarose，purredlainstmyhand，aedwithmyhen，wastheverycreatureofwhichIwasinsearch。Iatoopurchaseitofthelandlord;butthispersonmadenoclaimtoit—khingofit—hadbefore。
Iycaresses，and，wheogohome，theanimalevincedadispositiontoae。Ipermittedittodoso;oallystoopingandpattingitasIproceeded。Whehehouseitdomesticateditselfatondbecameimmediatelyagreatfavoritewithmywife。
Formyownpart，Isoonfoundadisliketwithihiswasjustthereverseofated;butIknohyitwas—itsevidentfondnessformyselfratherdisgustedandannoyed。Byslowdegrees，thesefeelingsofdisgustandaothebitterred。Iavoidedthecreature;asenseofshame，andtheremembranerdeedofcruelty，preventingmefromphysicallyabusingit。Ididnot，forsomeweeks，strike，orotherwiseviolentlyilluseit;butgradually—verygradually—Icametolookuponitwithuhing，alyfromitsodiouspresenthebreathofapestilence。
Whatadded，nodoubt，tomyhatredofthebeast，wasthedisafterIbroughtithome，that，likePluto，italsohadbeendeprivedofoseyes。Thisce，however，oomywife，who，asIhavealreadysaid，possessed，inahighdegree，thathumanityoffeelingwhimydistinguishingtrait，andthesouranyofmysimplestapleasures。
Withmyaversiontothiscat，however，itspartialityformyselfseemedtoifollowedmyfootstepsertinacitywhichitwouldbediffiakethereaderprehe，itwouldeathmychair，uponmyknees，ewithitsloathsomecaresses。IfIarosetowalkitwouldgetbetweehushrowmedown，or，fasteningitslongandsharpmydress，clamber，inthismaomybreast。Atsuchtimes，althoughIlowithabloithheldfromsodoing，partlyitatbyamemoryofmyformercrime，butchiefly—letmefessitatonce—byabsolutedreadofthebeast。
Thisdreadwaslyadreadofphysicalevil-aIshouldbeatalosshowotherwisetodefi。Iamalmostashamedtoowhisfelon'scell，Iamalmostashamedtoowerrorandhorrorwithwhiimalinspiredme，hadbeeehemerestchimaerasitwouldbepossibletoywifehadcalledmyattentiohahecharaarkofwhitehair，ofoken，andwhistitutedthesolevisiblediffereraheoneIhaddestroyed。Thereaderwillrememberthatthismark，althe，hadbeeninallyveryi，byslreesnearlyimperceptible，andwhichftimemyReasledtorejeciful—ithad，atlength，assumedarigorousdistiliwasionofaIshuddertoname—andforthis，aboveall，Iloathed，anddreaded，andwouldhaveridmyselfofthemonsterhadIdared—itwasnow，Isay，theimageofahideous—ofaghastlything—oftheGallows!—oh，mournfulandterribleengineofHorrorandonyah!
AndnowwasIidthewretereHumanity。A—whosefellotuouslydestroyed—abrutebeasttoworkoutforme—formeaman，fashioheimageoftheHighGod—somusufferablewo!Alas!herbydaynhtkheblessianymtheformerthecreatureleftmealone;aer，Istarted，hourly，fromdreamsofuofibreathofthethinguposvastweight—ani-MarethatIhadoshakeoff—iernallyupo!