“Let us go speak to Serena now,” I said eagerly. “Perhaps she will listen.”
Slyboots shook her head. However, she followed me, and we both crept over the dark cold meadow toward Serena. “Sister,” I said, “it's late. Come home with me.”
She gave me a dreamy glance, and then without speaking turned her head again. She was crouched in a graceful attitude near a tiny mound of earth.
“The cats are deceiving you,” I continued, “they are not coming back.”
She gave me another peculiar glance. She seemed sunk in a doze of ecstasy, and my words fell on dull ears.
“They are fooling you, Serena,” I went on excitedly, “there are no moles to be driven in. I expect they are snugly down below you in the earth. Blizzard wishes to make a simpleton of you.”
Serena roused herself slightly at this. “Go away, you jealous kitten,” she said haughtily. “Blizzard told me that you were eaten up with jealousy of me, because I am handsomer and cleverer than you.”
I felt like a simpleton, and I suppose I looked like one, as I stared helplessly at Slyboots. Jealous of her! I had never thought of such a thing. However, I could not persuade her of it, and I had better not try.
“Come home,” whispered Slyboots in my ear, and throwing Serena one contemptuous glance, she walked away.
I followed her for a short distance. I was amazed at the cleverness and cunning of that wicked Blizzard. Suddenly I stopped short. “Slyboots,” I said, “it does not matter what Serena thinks of me. I am not going to leave her alone on that meadow to-night. I will creep back among the alders and watch.”