"Very well. And thank you, Aunt Tabby," said Jazbury meekly. And he followed her back from the shed into the kitchen, wondering what he would say to Fluffy when he saw him again, and how he could explain not having caught anything after all.
However, he need not have been troubled. Fluffy was such a gentle little kitten that he never would tease or make fun of any one, no matter what they did or didn't do.
IV
The next morning Aunt Tabby again offered to show Jazbury the mouse-hole in the cupboard.
Jazbury looked very sulky. He was ashamed to try to beg off again, particularly after what Aunt Tabby had done for him the day before, but it seemed hard to have to give up another morning of play.
He followed Aunt Tabby into the kitchen. The cook had gone to market and the door of the cupboard was ajar. Aunt Tabby pushed it open and led the way into the darkness where the pots and pans were stored.
"Here's the hole, Jazbury," she told him in a low voice. "I have a feeling the mouse is out, and if you only keep perfectly quiet I feel sure it will try to get back into the hole again. That will be your chance, and I shall be very much disappointed if you do not catch your first mouse this morning."
"I don't feel as if I could catch anything today," said Jazbury sulkily.
"Now, Jazbury, don't go about it that way. If you don't catch it, it will be your own fault, and I shall feel very much provoked with you."
Then Aunt Tabby went away and left him there. She did not go very far, however. She was so anxious to have him get the mouse that she lingered close by where she could hear everything that went on in the cupboard--though this the kitten did not know.