Constance Heward

Thew family is somewhat middle class and has a maid who is an interesting character; she doesn't like cats, she uses corporal punishment on young children, and wears curling pins in bed. Tabiffa the cat is the heroine, cocks a snook at the nurse and saves the day. Beautiful illustrations, especially the one of the 7 firemen and their hosepipes.

This was one of my grandmother's books, given to her when she was a child. I used to enjoy looking at the lovely, old-fashioned pictures of the children, and loved the short story about a poor family, and how the oldest sister tries to make certain her siblings aren't left out of a party when they fall ill the day of the party. Sweet.