rom
following you."

"I do," said Miss Kitty firmly. "If you try to tag along after me where
I'm going I'll soon make you wish you had minded your own affairs."

There was a look in her eyes that old Spot did not like. It reminded him
of the time when he cornered Miss Kitty in the barn, soon after she
arrived at the farm. He remembered that his nose still bore the marks of
her sharp claws.

"Well, well!" he said. "I was only joking. I'm too busy to bother with
you, anyhow. I have a little matter to attend to in the pasture. There's
a Woodchuck up there that's getting too bold."

Then he trotted off, trying to look as important as possible, so that no
one would think he was afraid of Miss Kitty Cat.

"Good!" Miss Kitty cried, as she watched him while he started up the
lane.

"I'm glad he's out of the way. It would be awkward if I had to fight him
while I'm doing what I'm going to do."

XXIV

FIVE IN A BASKET

"WELL, if you're not bothering me again!" Farmer Green's wife exclaimed.

Miss Kitty Cat had come up behind her and brushed against her, asking at
the same time with her most polite mew if Mrs. Green wouldn't please
turn around.

Mrs. Green looked over her shoulder.

"I declare!" she cried. "So that's what you've been fussing about, is
it?"

Miss Kitty Cat gently laid something on the floor at her mistress' feet.
And she acted much pleased when Mrs. Green bent over and picked up a
tiny, soft, pudgy--kitten.

"What do you think of that?" Miss Kitty Cat asked Mrs. Green. At least,
that was what Mrs. Green understood her to say.

Anyhow, Miss Kitty appeared delighted with what Mrs. Green told her. And
feeling that her youngster was in safe hands, Miss Kitty Cat ran out of
the kitchen and disappeared.

In a little while she returned, carrying another kitten in her mouth.
Mrs. Green admired this one as much as the first. And again Miss Kitty
vanished.

She returned with a third kitten; she returned with a fourth one.

"Well, well!" Farmer Green's wife said to her. "We have enough
now--don't you think so?"

Mrs. Green soon learned that Miss Kitty Cat was not quite of the same
mind. She made one more trip across the yard to the barn. And at last,
with an air of great pride she set down a fifth kitten upon the kitchen
floor.

"That's all, Mrs. Green," Miss Kitty said. "They're so beautiful it's a
shame there aren't twice as many."

But Mrs. Green was out in the woodshed and didn't hear