James promised that he would; but his father knew that he did not always keep his promises.
That evening, James’ father poured a little milk into a saucer, and he and James carried it up garret, and put it upon the floor, and then came directly down again. The next morning they went up to look at it, and found that the milk was gone. They then brought down the saucer, filled it again, and carried it back. They stopped a minute to look round for the kitten, and presently they saw her behind a barrel. James wanted to go and catch her, but his father would not let him. His father said, “Poor pussy, poor pussy,” in a gentle, soothing tone, and put the saucer down where she could see it, and then led James away down stairs. When he went out that morning, he forbid James going to the garret till he came home.
At noon they carried some more milk up, and the kitten came out a little way towards them.
“There,” said James’ father, “do you not see the effect of kindness?”
He then put the saucer down, and went back with James a few steps, and stood still. The kitten came up to the saucer and began to drink the milk.
“Now let us go and catch her,” said James.
“No,” said his father.
After the kitten had drunk all the milk, she ran back behind the barrel, and James and his father came down stairs.
The next time they went up, they stood close by the saucer, and the kitten came up slowly and cautiously. James’ father gently stroked her back while she was feeding, and James thought he was certainly going to catch her then. But he did not; he let her drink the milk and then go back behind the barrels.
“Why, father, are you not ever going to catch her?” said James.