der, or only groan with the heavy tread of sober
grown-ups? Often and often now, while

"In the elders' seat
Resting with quiet feet,"

I fall asleep and dream I come to the foot of those enchanted stairs,
where for my little companion and me stupid law and irksome restraint
ceased, and the liberty we craved began. Then, once more, Willy and I,
whose hands will never meet again on earth, mount hand in hand to the
region we loved.

We drove with our father and mother to the station, and, coming back,
found we had the tiresome formality of our nursery tea to get through
before we were free to make tracks for our happy hunting-ground above.

The young man was waiting there, before his open window, his hands in
his trousers-pockets. We tore down the screen, flung up our own window.
"Have you got it?" we called to him, breathlessly. "Is it there? The
kitten?"

It was in his coat-pocket; a little sandy kitten which trembled
exceedingly through all its fluffy fur, and piteously mewed. He held it
forth to us, finger and thumb about its tiny neck, across the narrow
way; but stretch as far as we could we could not reach it. Willy
undertook to catch it if it were thrown, but the young man said that
for worlds he would not endanger the life of the kitten, and I implored
him to run no risks.

"What is that standing up by the side of your bed?" Willy asked him,
pointing. "It was not there before--that long board?"

It was a plank, the young man informed us. He was going to make it into
a box. He was a carpenter by trade. Didn't we know it?

We told him no, and artlessly informed him we had thought he was a
gentleman, assuring him politely at the same time we were glad he was
not.

Then Willy suggested that the plank should bridge the space from his
room to ours, and that the kitten should be induced to walk on it.

The young man welcomed the idea as an excellent one, but feared when
Kitty saw the great depth below she might turn giddy and fall. Done in
the dark, now, she would not see, nor have any fear.

But nurse made us go to bed before dark we told him, and we so longed
for the precious kitten.

We should know it would be there, he said. Leave the screen down, and
the window open all night, and we should know it would be there, and
could bring it its breakfast, the first thing in the morning.

With this prospect we were obliged to be content; but although at
present, separated from our new treasure, w