thing to help him!"

"I don't think he's suffering much now," I said comfortingly.

The Story Girl said nothing. She passed and repassed her long brown hand
gently over her pet's glossy fur. Pat lifted his head and essayed to
creep a little nearer to his beloved mistress. The Story Girl drew his
limp body close in her arms. There was a plaintive little mew--a long
quiver--and Paddy's friendly soul had fared forth to wherever it is that
good cats go.

"Well, he's gone," said Dan, turning his back abruptly to us.

"It doesn't seem as if it can be true," sobbed Cecily. "This time
yesterday morning he was full of life."

"He drank two full saucers of cream," moaned Felicity, "and I saw him
catch a mouse in the evening. Maybe it was the last one he ever caught."

"He did for many a mouse in his day," said Peter, anxious to pay his
tribute to the departed.

"'He was a cat--take him for all in all. We shall not look upon his like
again,'" quoted Uncle Blair.

Felicity and Cecily and Sara Ray cried so much that Aunt Janet lost
patience completely and told them sharply that they would have something
to cry for some day--which did not seem to comfort them much. The Story
Girl shed no tears, though the look in her eyes hurt more than weeping.

"After all, perhaps it's for the best," she said drearily. "I've been
feeling so badly over having to go away and leave Paddy. No matter how
kind you'd all be to him I know he'd miss me terribly. He wasn't like
most cats who don't care who comes and goes as long as they get plenty
to eat. Paddy wouldn't have been contented without me."

"Oh, no-o-o, oh, no-o-o," wailed Sara Ray lugubriously.

Felix shot a disgusted glance at her.

"I don't see what YOU are making such a fuss about," he said
unfeelingly. "He wasn't your cat."

"But I l-l-oved him," sobbed Sara, "and I always feel bad when my
friends d-do."

"I wish we could believe that cats went to heaven, like people," sighed
Cecily. "Do you really think it isn't possible?"

Uncle Blair shook his head.

"I'm afraid not. I'd like to think cats have a chance for heaven, but I
can't. There's nothing heavenly about cats, delightful creatures though
they are."

"Blair, I'm really surprised to hear the things you say to the
children," said Aunt Janet severely.

"Surely you wouldn't prefer me to tell them that cats DO go to heaven,"
protested Uncle Blair.

"I think it's wicked to carry on about an animal as those children d