"'Don't bring that cat,' said Will. 'She might get at the birds.'
"'No, she won't. I shan't let her,' I answered.
"'But she might,' said Rosa; 'she's so quick and active, she'd be up the tree before you knew it.'
"'No, she shan't,' I repeated positively; 'I'll keep her in my arms all the time, and I'm going to take her.'
"And though Will begged me, and was even angry about it, I persisted in taking the cat with me.
"And I did keep her fast in my arms, although she struggled to be free, and even scratched me severely when she saw, as she immediately did, what Will was at.
"He found the little creature somewhat better than when he had left it in the morning, and it was quite tame, fluttering but little when he climbed the tree, and almost taking the worm he offered from his hand. He supplied it with all it needed, and came down as soon as possible, as the mother-bird had again flown from the nest when he came near.
"How kitty's eyes gleamed and sparkled, and how fiercely she struggled in my arms! It was all I could do to keep my hold; and I was so afraid that she would escape in spite of me, that I was sorry that I had not listened to my sister and brother and left her behind.
"But at last we were ready to go; and when I put puss down at the farm-house door, I relieved my feelings and visited my own obstinacy on her by giving her two or three good cuffs. It never came into the mind of any one of us as she scampered away and hid beneath the stoop, that she might find her way back to the nest by herself, or of all the mischief she would work there.