've a feeling 'art, miss,' said the burglar; 'but them cats is
really a little bit too thick.'

'Look here,' said Jane, 'I won't call the police. And I am quite a real
little girl, though I talk older than the kind you've met before when
you've been doing your burglings. And they are real cats--and they want
real milk--and--Didn't you say the cow was like somebody's Daisy that
you used to know?'

'Wish I may die if she ain't the very spit of her,' replied the man.

'Well, then,' said Jane--and a thrill of joyful pride ran through
her--'perhaps you know how to milk cows?'

'Perhaps I does,' was the burglar's cautious rejoinder.

'Then,' said Jane, 'if you will ONLY milk ours--you don't know how we
shall always love you.'

The burglar replied that loving was all very well.

'If those cats only had a good long, wet, thirsty drink of milk,' Jane
went on with eager persuasion, 'they'd lie down and go to sleep as
likely as not, and then the police won't come back. But if they go on
mewing like this he will, and then I don't know what'll become of us, or
you either.'

This argument seemed to decide the criminal. Jane fetched the wash-bowl
from the sink, and he spat on his hands and prepared to milk the cow. At
this instant boots were heard on the stairs.

'It's all up,' said the man, desperately, 'this 'ere's a plant. 'ERE'S
the police.' He made as if to open the window and leap from it.

'It's all right, I tell you,' whispered Jane, in anguish. 'I'll say
you're a friend of mine, or the good clergyman called in, or my uncle,
or ANYTHING--only do, do, do milk the cow. Oh, DON'T go--oh--oh, thank
goodness it's only the boys!'

It was; and their entrance had awakened Anthea, who, with her brothers,
now crowded through the doorway. The man looked about him like a rat
looks round a trap.

'This is a friend of mine,' said Jane; 'he's just called in, and he's
going to milk the cow for us. ISN'T it good and kind of him?'

She winked at the others, and though they did not understand they played
up loyally.

'How do?' said Cyril, 'Very glad to meet you. Don't let us interrupt the
milking.'

'I shall 'ave a 'ead and a 'arf in the morning, and no bloomin' error,'
remarked the burglar; but he began to milk the cow.

Robert was winked at to stay and see that he did not leave off milking
or try to escape, and the others went to get things to put the milk in;
for it was now spurting and foaming in the wash-bowl, and the ca