"I can't imagine why you kept them on," said Mrs. Cat.
"We were so hungry we didn't have time to take them off," said the little black kitten.
"My fingers were so cold I thought I'd leave them on," cried the tabby kitten.
"I didn't think about anything," sobbed the little gray kitten. "I just looked at the pie, and then I forgot I had on mittens."
Mrs. Cat stood with her front paws on her hips, looking first from one little kitten to another.
"Did you ever see anything like children?" she sighed, turning to Puss, Junior.
"My dear madam, forgive them this once. They were so excited over finding the pie that they lost their heads."
"It's a good thing they are tied on," said Mrs. Cat, with a laugh; "they might not be found as easily as the mittens."
The three little kittens looked very much ashamed. Then the little black kitten ran over to the washtubs and, jumping on a stool, turned the hot-water faucet. His mother handed him a big cake of soap, and in another minute the other two little kittens climbed up beside him.