Kitty's enemy

by Eleanora H. Stooke

But whilst she momentarily hesitated over her reply, Bob exclaimed impatiently: "Of course she's not sure; she's made a mistake, I'm positive of it! Tim Shuttleworth wouldn't steal the basket! Why should he? What good would it be to him? Depend upon it the rabbit was brought the other evening by the same boy who fetched the basket to-night; he merely helped himself to his own property, and, being afraid of Snip, did it as quietly as possible."

"But how could he tell the basket was behind the scullery door, Master Bob?" asked Cook, dubiously.

"Perhaps he's an errand-boy who comes to the house, and noticed it there," suggested Mary.

"Very likely," agreed Mrs. Glanville; "but if so, he might have asked for it in a proper manner instead of helping himself to it after dark. I wish, Kitty dear," she continued, addressing her little daughter with a note of reproach in her voice, "you would not be so ready to think evil of Tim Shuttleworth. He strikes me as a particularly nice boy, certainly not one who would do a dishonest action. Depend upon it, you have made a mistake."

"I don't believe I have," declared Kitty. "I didn't see his face, but I am sure—that is, almost sure—it was Tim."

"Absurd!" Bob cried. "What will you accuse him of doing next, I wonder? First you thought he killed your rabbit, and now you believe him to a thief. You're utterly silly."

"I'm not," retorted Kitty, looking deeply mortified and vexed that she could get no one to credit the charge she had brought against the boy next door. "I think he's a horrid boy," she declared hotly, "and I believe he'd do anything—so there! I shall tell him the next time I see him that I was watching him to-night, and hear what he has to say."

"You will do nothing of the kind, Kitty," her father admonished her; "for that would be tantamount to accusing him of having stolen the basket. I forbid you to mention the matter to him; it would naturally make him feel most uncomfortable if you did. We have not known the boy many days, it is true, but quite long enough to know that he is not a thief."

"Yes, indeed, father," agreed Bob. "I believe he's the sort of boy who wouldn't do anything dishonourable or mean for the world. Since I've known him I've liked him—though I admit before that I'd rather taken sides against him. I suppose Kitty, you've no objection to my changing my mind?"

Kitty made no response, but her eyes flashed resentfully at her brother, and she was conscious of a jealous feeling against Tim which did not soften her heart towards him. She had not calculated that Bob would become so friendly with the enemy next door.