It was soon noticed that when there was work to be done the cat could never be found.
She would vanish for hours on end, and then reappear at meal-times, or in the evening after work was over, as though nothing had happened.
But she always made such excellent excuses, and purred so affectionately, that it was impossible not to believe in her good intentions.
Old Benjamin, the donkey, seemed quite unchanged since the Rebellion.
He did his work in the same slow obstinate way as he had done it in Jones's time, never shirking and never volunteering for extra work either.
About the Rebellion and its results he would express no opinion.
When asked whether he was not happier now that Jones was gone, he would say only "Donkeys live a long time.
None of you has ever seen a dead donkey," and the others had to be content with this cryptic answer.
On Sundays there was no work.
Breakfast was an hour later than usual, and after breakfast there was a ceremony which was observed every week without fail.