Felix was a little way down the road. Julia called out,—
"Felix Le Bras, what have you done with my kitten?"
"I haven't done any thing with your kitten," replied Felix. But since he laughed as he spoke, his denial did not have the force that it might have had if he had looked sober and in earnest.
"Why, what's the matter about your kitten? Isn't she all right? The last time I saw her, she was right up here by the house," he continued.
"Didn't Jack carry her off?" asked Julia, looking perplexed.
"No, of course he didn't! We went fishing. Do you suppose we wanted a cat for bait? Look there!"
As he spoke, Felix swung forward a very respectable string of blackfish, with a long eel hanging from their midst. He then ran forward, brandishing the fish and the swinging eel, coming right up on the steps where the girls were standing. Julia and Sue screamed, ran back, and got behind Johnny, who was laughing in spite of his efforts to look dignified.
"Don't you accuse me of carrying off your kitten!" shouted Felix, swinging the eel towards Julia. "I've had enough of your sauce before now, Miss Julia Peterson."
Felix had not noticed Mrs. Peterson until now, when she came forward out of the shady western piazza, saying,—
"No more rudeness, Felix! Go away with your eel!—Do you really know nothing about Julia's kitten?"