y after--um--well--_after_, you
know."

Topsy bobbed the end of her tail understandingly, and Pan grew
confidential. "I know where's a dish of cream! It's down--"

The rest of the sentence was whispered so low that I really couldn't
tell you what it was; but Topsy understood, and the two hurried away as
noiselessly and gracefully,--yes, and as dignifiedly as only cats can
hurry.

The desired cream they found on a high shelf in the shed. They were
supposed never to enter this place, so Cook had thought it a safe spot
in which to set the cream.

A strong jump was needed to reach the shelf; but after several attempts
they managed it and lapped, lapped, lapped to their full content.

As they sat blissfully purring after this unusual treat they heard a
plaintive "Mew" from the ground close by, and peering down saw a strange
cat that had evidently entered through the open window, as they had
done. He looked hungry and wistful, while they had just had a delicious
meal and were correspondingly pleasant.

"Mrr-ow! Come on up; it's good!" called Pan.

Possibly hunger made the leap easier for this new-comer than for the
well-fed cats; possibly he was more agile than they, for with one spring
he landed by the saucer and dipping his head eagerly lapped long and
fast before he once raised his eyes. When he finished the pink tongue
was run out over his lips and whiskers, so that no delicious drop should
escape, and he heaved a satisfied sigh.

"Do you--ah--always have such dinners as this?" asked he.

Pan turned his head away and pretended to be interested in a black ant
that was crawling rapidly up the wall below him; he was a truthful pussy
and preferred to change the subject. The stranger was comfortable and
sat lazily waiting for the answer.

At that moment Cook went for the cream and seeing the cats started
angrily forward, shoo-ing and scat-ing with great vigour.

When after a wild exit the cats at last seated themselves up on a high
fence they paused a moment to get their breath again. Then the stranger
smiled--he actually _grinned_!

"I should judge you _don't_ always have such a dinner as that!" He spoke
pleasantly, but Pan looked sheepish.

"By Whiskers!" he muttered, his mind's eye still seeing Cook's vulgar,
flapping apron strings; "I should think not!"

"Thanks, just the same--_more_," said the visitor jumping down.

"Don't mention it," politely answered the host and hostess. "Come
again!"

[Illustrat