She met his onslaught with one contemptuous sweep of her capable paw.

Rusty went rolling helplessly over on the rug; he picked himself up dazedly.

What sort of a cat was this who had boxed his ears?
He looked dubiously at the Sarah-cat.

Would he or would he not?
The Sarah-cat deliberately turned her back on him and resumed her toilet operations.

Rusty decided that he would not.