When they reached Owen’s door he invited them to come up to see the kitten, which they had been inquiring about on the way. Frankie was delighted with these two visitors, and whilst they were eating some home-made cakes that Nora gave them, he entertained them by displaying the contents of his toy box, and the antics of the kitten, which was the best toy of all, for it invented new games all the time: acrobatic performances on the rails of chairs; curtain climbing; running slides up and down the oilcloth; hiding and peeping round corners and under the sofa. The kitten cut so many comical capers, and in a little while the children began to create such an uproar, that Nora had to interfere lest the people in the flat underneath should be annoyed.
However, Elsie and Charley were not able to stay very long, because their mother would be anxious about them, but they promised to come again some other day to play with Frankie.
“I’m going to ’ave a prize next Sunday at our Sunday School,” said Elsie as they were leaving.
“What are you going to get it for?” asked Nora.
“’Cause I learned my text properly. I had to learn the whole of the first chapter of Matthew by heart and I never made one single mistake! So teacher said she’d give me a nice book next Sunday.”
“I ’ad one too, the other week, about six months ago, didn’t I, Elsie?” said Charley.
“Yes,” replied Elsie and added: “Do they give prizes at your Sunday School, Frankie?”
“I don’t go to Sunday School.”
“Ain’t you never been?” said Charley in a tone of surprise.
“No,” replied Frankie. “Dad says I have quite enough of school all the week.”