CHAPTER X
WE REACH THE COUNTRY
I found myself in the arms of a slight young man, who had blue eyes and yellow hair. He had slipped forward when the train stopped, and had taken me as I was handed out.
Cuddling me up to him quite nicely, he said slyly—“A kitty that looks as if she had been struck by lightning.”
I suppose I was dreadfully rumpled, still I didn't like to hear it, so I said “Meow!” in a loud voice, hoping that some of our own party would hear me. They did not, though I saw them in a great confusion of heads, and arms, and hurrying feet.
The train did make the people jump at this little station. For two or three minutes it was dreadful to see the crowding and pushing, and to hear the thumping of boxes. I thought that the Denvilles' trunks would be knocked all to pieces.
Finally, when the trouble seemed at the very worst, the train gave a dreadful yelling and breathing and slowly dragged away.
“Where is my pussy?” I heard in Mary's dear voice. “Where is my Black-Face? Here are the others, but where is she?”
My captor slipped up to her and held me out.
“Oh! thank you,” said Mary, and she took me in her arms.
This was the first really happy moment that I had known since leaving Boston. I snuggled down to her. I even began to purr.