They sat down by the roadside and stared at each other hopelessly. The tabby showed no signs of wishing to leave them, though, in their despair, they had left the basket open.
"We—might do something to make it nervous," suggested Ginger, feebly.
He began to make strange noises of obviously hostile and insulting intent to the cat. The cat began to purr. William watched with cold scorn.
"Oh, yes, and then do somethin' to make it valu'ble, an' then do somethin' to make it white!"
They were both strangely silent at this last suggestion. The hopelessness of their countenances seemed to clear.
"It mightn't stay on, of course," said William, "but it might make it look all right for a bit."
"Where can we get some?" asked Ginger, cryptically.
"P'raps old Lawkins has some," said William. "You can pay for it."
They carefully replaced the tabby cat in the basket and went towards the village shop.
William entered and stated his needs.