The narrator tells the reader that the story is set in a fictional world ruled by "story & art" . He tells the audience that he is a lowborn southerner who has had to endure hardship to get to this part of the world. He says that he has always been alone, and that he would never have surrendered to cats if he were not in love with them. He then gives the reader a description of the white roses that are perfect for her, and tells her that he thinks she would look prettier if she grew out of them. The narrator says that she would give her a collar