Peggy almost decided to take her mother’s advice and let Diana keep the cat. She seemed to love her so very much, and to have so much less to make her happy than they had. It must be hard to lie still instead of being able to frisk about wherever one pleased. And yet, Diana looked happy. She didn’t see why; she knew she could not be happy if she had to keep still like that.
“I think we ought to be going now,” said Peggy, “because we told Clara we’d come early. We might leave Lady Jane to make Diana a little visit.” This seemed a good compromise.
“No,” said Alice, with decision, “I want to take her back right off now.”
So Peggy helped Alice put the struggling cat into the basket. They shut the cover down tight, paying no attention to Lady Jane’s dismal mews.
“I wish you didn’t have to go,” said Diana, a little sadly. “Do come again soon, and perhaps you’ll bring Lady Jane with you.”
“We’ll come again soon,” said Peggy.
“Yes,” said Alice; and in her own mind she thought, “We’ll never, never bring Lady Jane.”