a little smaller
than Welcome Robin. There was no danger of mistaking him for anybody
else, for there is no one dressed at all like him.

Peter forgot all about Glory in his pleasure at discovering the returned
Kitty and hurried over to welcome him. Kitty had disappeared among the
bushes along the old stone wall, but Peter had no trouble in finding
him by the queer cries he was uttering, which were very like the meow
of Black Pussy the Cat. They were very harsh and unpleasant and Peter
understood perfectly why their maker is called the Catbird. He did
not hurry in among the bushes at once but waited expectantly. In a few
minutes the harsh cries ceased and then there came from the very same
place a song which seemed to be made up of parts of the songs of all the
other birds of the Old Orchard. It was not loud, but it was charming. It
contained the clear whistle of Glory, and there was even the tinkle of
Little Friend the Song Sparrow. The notes of other friends were in that
song, and with them were notes of southern birds whose songs Kitty had
learned while spending the winter in the South. Then there were notes
all his own.

Peter listened until the song ended, then scampered in among the bushes.
At once those harsh cries broke out again. You would have thought that
Kitty was scolding Peter for coming to see him instead of being glad.
But that was just Kitty's way. He is simply brimming over with fun and
mischief, and delights to pretend.

When Peter found him, he was sitting with all his feathers puffed out
until he looked almost like a ball with a head and tail. He looked
positively sleepy. Then as he caught sight of Peter he drew those
feathers down tight, cocked his tail up after the manner of Jenny Wren,
and was as slim and trim looking as any bird of Peter's acquaintance.
He didn't look at all like the same bird of the moment before. Then he
dropped his tail as if he hadn't strength enough to hold it up at all.
It hung straight down. He dropped his wings and all in a second made
himself look fairly disreputable. But all the time his eyes were
twinkling and snapping, and Peter knew that these changes in appearance
were made out of pure fun and mischief.

"I've been wondering if you were coming hack," cried Peter. "I don't
know of any one of my feathered friends I would miss so much as you."

"Thank you," responded Kitty. "It's very nice of you to say that, Peter.
If you are glad to see me I am still more glad