“What under the sun have you got there?” asked Mrs. Polly, eying the poor little gray kitten shrewdly.
The barn-cat had jumped on the window-seat, but the gray kitten had modestly seated herself on the ground under the window. The house-cat, too, had joined the group, and placed herself where she could watch the little gray kitten. She stared at the poor little thing so scornfully that she didn’t know which way to look; so she looked on the ground and presented a very miserable appearance indeed, with her soiled and rumpled fur and her poor half-blind eyes.
“Where did you pick her up?” asked Mrs. Polly.
“I don’t know much more about her than you do,” answered the barn-cat. “I found her a few minutes ago on the door-step of the barn, and she tells me she has come from the other side of the town, and that she hasn’t any mother. I thought you’d better see her and hear her story, and perhaps you’d think of something that could be done for her.”
Mrs. Polly put on her wise look and gave a little Ahem! for it always gratified her to be looked up to and asked for advice.
Meanwhile the house-cat sat staring the poor gray kitten out of countenance. “My advice is to send her back where she came from,” she said. “Anybody can see that she’s only a tramp. I won’t have my children taught any of her common ways. Besides, there are too many cats around already,” she added, eying the barn-cat so scornfully that it was very evident she referred to her and her kittens.
“Whoever she is and wherever she comes from, it’s as plain as the nose on your face that she’s been well brought up,” answered the barn-cat quickly. “She’s quiet and lady-like in her manners, and that’s more than can be said of some who’ve had the best of advantages.”
“She’s a common kitten, probably brought up in a barn,” said the house-cat contemptuously, “and has no style whatever.”
This was too much for the barn-cat’s endurance, and she gave an angry spit, when the canary, who was always the peace-maker, interposed.
“Whatever she may be,” said the canary gently, “she’s neglected and unfortunate; so, if Mrs. Polly will find out her story, I’m sure she will find a way to help her out of her troubles. If her wise head can’t, I don’t know whose can.”