e
stove she said in her sweet voice, "You see I've found poor pussy,
Mary." "Humph," said Mary, "I never thought but that she'd be found fast
enough when she wanted to be!" I knew that this was a lie, because I had
heard what she said in the shed. I do wish I knew what makes her hate me
so: I only wish she knew how I hate her. I really think I shall gnaw her
stockings and shoes some night. It would not be any more than fair; and
she would never suspect me, there are so many mice in her room, for I
never touch one that I think belongs in her closet.

The sitting-room was all in most beautiful order,--a smooth white
something, like the side of a basket, over the whole floor, a beautiful
paper curtain, pink and white, over the fire-place, and white muslin
curtains at the windows. I stood perfectly still in the middle of the
room for some time. I was too surprised to stir. Oh, how I wished that I
could speak, and tell your dear mother all that had happened, and how
the room had looked three days before. Presently she said, "Poor pussy,
I know you are almost starved, aren't you?" and I said "Yes," as plainly
as I could mew it. Then she brought me a big soup-plate full of thick
cream, and some of the most delicious cold hash I ever tasted; and after
I had eaten it all, she took me in her lap, and said, "Poor pussy, we
miss little Helen, don't we?" and she held me in her lap till bed-time.
Then she let me sleep on the foot of her bed: it was one of the happiest
nights of my life. In the middle of the night I was up for a while, and
caught the smallest mouse I ever saw out of the nest. Such little ones
are very tender.

In the morning I had my breakfast with her in the dining-room, which
looks just as nice as the sitting-room. After breakfast Mrs. Hitchcock
came in, and your mother said: "Only think, how fortunate I am; Mary did
all the house-cleaning while I was away. Every room is in perfect order;
all the woollen clothes are put away for the summer. Poor pussy, here,
was frightened out of the house, and I suppose we should all have been
if we had been at home."

Can you imagine how ashamed I felt? I ran under the table and did not
come out again until after Mrs. Hitchcock had gone. But now comes
the saddest part of my story. Soon after this, as I was looking out of
the window, I saw the fattest, most tempting robin on the ground under
the cherry-tree: the windows did not look as if they had any glass in
them, and I took i