"Oh, no, I have the money!" replied Arthur. But his face flushed crimson with pain and shame as he said, "It must be a small sole, please."
The man weighed several before he could get one to suit Arthur, for the boy had suddenly decided that he must not spend more than a shilling for the fish, and at last he got what he wanted and started homeward. This time he went through the by-streets as the nearest way back, and came upon another fish shop, where they sold fish ready fried.
"Now this will be just the thing for those beastly cats," said Arthur to himself, as a man placed a dish of smoking-hot slices of fish in the window.
In a moment, he dashed in and put twopence on the counter. "Give me two pennyworth quick," he said.
The man soon handed Arthur a greasy packet of fish wrapped in a piece of newspaper, and the lad dashed off again.
"What a long time you have been!" said Molly, who opened the door to him.
And as he entered, a faint mew came from the stairs.
"Poor pussy!" said Arthur, and he held the greasy parcel towards her. The Persian caught a whiff of the tasty contents, and uttered a louder mew, while Arthur ran off to the kitchen followed by Tuffy.
The next minute, Mrs. Murray appeared at the top of the stairs, and Molly ran up to see what had brought her mother out of her room.
"My poor pets are so hungry!" said the lady plaintively.