'Oh, there he is!' cried Edith; 'I will run and ask him at once.'

Very soon she returned, smiling and happy. 'Mother,' she said, 'I have
given Mr. Merry my half-crown, and he says he will call to-morrow and
take Tabby home with him, and keep her as long as we please.'

'And so you have no money now,' cried Evelyn; 'why, you will not be able
to buy anything at Clifton.'

'Never mind, Edie,' said little Ina, kindly, 'I will give you a shilling
out of my money; but I do think it was very unkind of Mr. Merry to take
all that you had; don't you think so, Mother?'

But Mother would not tell her thoughts; she only smiled to herself and
said, 'Run away, darlings, and pack up your dolls' clothes, and remember
you must take nothing except what can be put into the dolls' trunk.' And
away the children ran to look after this important matter.

Next day the cab was at the door. Mother had taken her seat, Jane had
locked the hall door, and Mr. Merry, with Tabby in his arms, was just
leaving the house, when, with an angry 'fuff,' and a desperate spring,
she leaped to the ground and disappeared in a moment among the trees at
the side of the house. What was to be done?

Edith was ready to cry, but Mr. Merry comforted her by promising to
return in the afternoon, when, no doubt, Tabby would be at the door,
hungry enough. He would give her a saucer of milk, and, while she was
lapping it, he would secure her and take her away. Edith was greatly
relieved; she thanked him warmly, and, in the excitement of railway
travel, Tabby was almost forgotten.

What a delightful place Clifton was! Such toy-shops, such Zoological
Gardens with real lions and tigers! Could children ever weary of such a
place? Certainly neither Edith nor her two sisters; and so it was with a
feeling of disappointment that they saw the travelling boxes once more
pulled out, and faithful Jane begin to pack again. Mother was much
better, however--that was one great comfort, and, as she was longing to
be home again at the Grove, the children were fain to be content. As
they drew near Ventnor, the three girls began talking of home and Tabby.
'Do you think that Mr. Merry will be willing to give her back to me,
Mother?' said Edith, anxiously. 'She is such a darling, perhaps he may
want to keep her!'

'Don't be afraid, dear,' said her mother, smiling; 'I dare say he has a
cat of his own, and will be quite glad to send Tabby back.'

'Oh, Edie!' cried Evelyn, 'here we are;