Johnny held the basket while Charley put her in it. Then Ellen tied the cover down. Julia had put in that basket some bits of meat for kitty’s lunch; and in another she had a bottle of milk and Johnny’s old tin cup, to give puss a drink while on the boat.
But before the carriage was out of the lane, the kitten was out of the basket, and everybody saw her wildly running back to the woods.
“My kitty! O my kitty! I can never go without her!” cried Julia.
“Here, Johnny!” shouted uncle Benjamin, as he turned his horses round, “you and Charley scamper after that kitten.”
The boys leaped over the stone wall.
“But this will make us late for the boat,” said Mr. Cary.
“Wont the cars do as well? I can’t bear to let the little girl go without the kitten that was so ‘pesshus.’”
They drove back to the shade of the willow-tree by the gate. Aunt Abby had stood there watching them. She said if kitty did not come back soon, they must wait for her and take to-morrow’s boat. But then they heard the boys shout, and soon the funny fellows came out of the woods with the runaway.
Papa Cary tied the cover this time, and puss was surely fast.
Again the loving good-bys were said under the old willow, and Julia could not tell if she were most glad or sorry to start for home.