“Poor kitty, do come in!” cried Rose, holding out her hand invitingly. And the black cat walked in.
She was very wet and draggly, but Kenneth took her in his arms and carried her upstairs. Rose ran before, and they knocked on the library door, where their mamma was hidden with her secrets.
“Mamma, Mamma! Come here a minute!” they cried. “Come and see what we have found. Come quick, Mamma!”
In a minute their mamma came hurrying, and opened the door just a tiny little crack, through which she peeped at them. But when she saw what Kenneth had in his arms she came out quickly, shuttling the door carefully behind her (to keep the Christmas secrets from running away, I suppose).
“What have you found, Kenneth?” she cried, holding up her hands.
“A kitty, a poor kitty, lost in the snow,” said Kenneth.
“We had to take her in and make her warm and comfy at Christmas time, didn’t we, Mamma?” said Rose.
“Please, Mamma, you will let us keep her, won’t you?” they both pleaded.
Mrs. Thornton hesitated. The cat was very wet and homely. She had meant to give the children a pretty little kitten some day. But just then the poor hungry animal looked up and gave a pitiful “Mi-a-ow,” and Mrs. Thornton remembered how dreadful it was that any living creature should be miserable and cold and homeless at the happy Christmas time.
“Yes, you may keep her, children,” she said. “Keep her and make her have a merry Christmas.”