"Yes, but she will never forgive herself afterwards."
"I can't advise you, Mrs. Hadly. It is very sad, indeed. When Mr. Halloway comes home, I think he will take the matter in his own hands."
There was a sound of crying outside, and Venna recognized Bud's tearful tones and Bessie's soothing voice.
Venna stepped to the door to admit her young friends.
"Bud, dear, what is the matter?" she exclaimed as Bud entered in sobs, with Bessie's protecting arms about him.
"My—my—cat—Missus Hadly—my cat—she died of salvation—way out in the woods—with me—here—an' never knowin'!"
"What does he mean?" asked Venna of Bessie, who was trying to look sympathetic.
"Why, Bud's pussie got lost in the woods, and never came back for weeks. Now he's found her dead, so he thinks it was starvation killed her."
"Yes, an' I'll never—pump—the organ in Mr. Soffy's church again, 'cause I don't like religion any more. I prayed that Flip would come home, an' a lot o' good prayin' does!"
Bud was inconsolable. Venna told him he must not talk that way. God knew why Flip had to be taken from him.