"That sounds like a cat," said grandmother to herself. "But, of course, it is not. No cat would be in these woods in winter."
"Meow, meow," came the sound again.
This time grandmother looked around. What do you think she saw? There, in the road behind her, were two black and white kittens. They were trotting along side by side. They looked just alike.
Grandmother stopped and called, "Kitty, kitty, kitty! Come here, you pretty kitties. Where did you come from? Are you following me?"
As soon as grandmother stopped, the kittens, too, stopped. She went back toward them. When she did this, the kittens turned and ran away. They did not wish to be caught.
Grandmother called to them again. She tried in every way to get near them. But she could not.
At last she said, "Poor kittens! You do not know that I am your friend. I do not like to leave you here in the cold. But I cannot stay any longer. I must go home."
So she walked on up the road. When the kittens saw this, they started after her. She looked back and saw them following. Side by side they came, their little pointed tails straight up.
"Well, I never!" said grandmother to herself. "Now, do you suppose they will follow me home?"
She kept looking back to see. Every time she looked, the kittens were coming. But, if she stopped, they stopped.