“After that they had a long talk about how they could bring it about to get that child Nancy here that had fed the sparrow and the gray kitten. Feeding the kitten, indeed! as if there were not cats enough around already! When I came away they were talking about having the sparrow entice her here some way or other.”
“Why didn’t you stay and hear it out?” said the old rat savagely. “I thought you had more sense.”
“Well, all at once that disagreeable Polly (she’s always minding everybody’s business but her own) said, ‘I do believe there’s a rat under that piazza.’ I didn’t wait to hear any more, I can tell you, but slunk off just as the barn-cat jumped down to find out where the noise came from.”
“Here comes the barn-cat!” called out Silvertail from the window; and instantly the whole company darted to their holes, as the barn-cat appeared at the head of the stairs.
The barn-cat put her nose up in the air and sniffed. “Those rats and mice have been about, sure as you live!” she said. “I must teach the gray kitten to keep a sharp lookout while I’m away. Hallo!” she called to Major, “how are you getting on?”
“All right,” answered Major; “I’ve important news for you. I made believe asleep just now, and heard a thing or two. The rats know exactly what you’re plotting, for they set a spy to listen to your conversation this morning. They know you’re going to try to get that girl here, and they’re going to stop it if they can, because she fed the little gray kitten.”
“I’d like to see ’em do it,” said the barn-cat.
“They can annoy you, though, in a great many ways,” said Major; “and, to tell the truth, I’m afraid they’re going to plot against the gray kitten. They all seemed full of spite against her.”
“I’d like to see ’em touch a hair of her head!” exclaimed the barn-cat ferociously.
“Here comes that dear child, Posy, with your breakfast,” said Major, as Posy appeared, carrying a plate and followed by Tom with a saucer of milk.