ound her already
there, listening to Dennis, who was giving an excited account of the
discovery of Madam in the hayloft that afternoon.

"It's _such_ a jolly little kitten we're going to keep, you can't think,
Aunt Katharine," he said; "as black as a coal all over."

"And what does Maisie think?" said Aunt Katharine, turning to the little
girl, who had not joined in her brother's description. "Does she like
it best too?"

Maisie's round face became very pink, and she nervously crumbled up her
cake, but said nothing.

"Would you rather keep the white one or the grey one, dear?" asked her
aunt kindly. "I daresay Dennis would not mind. He shall choose next
time."

"We didn't choose," put in Dennis quickly; "we cast lots, so it's quite
fair. It's only," he continued, lowering his voice confidentially,
"that she doesn't like the others to be drowned."

"Is that it, Maisie?" asked Aunt Katharine.

Maisie nodded. She had meant to say a good deal, but now that the
moment had come, her feelings were rather more than she could manage.
She gazed beseechingly at Aunt Katharine, who could save the kittens by
one word, and still crumbling up her cake with her little brown hands,
murmured, "Just this once."

Aunt Katharine smiled.

"And how about my rule?" she said. "If you keep the kittens `just this
once,' you will want to keep the next, and the next, and we shall soon
have as many cats as there were before. That would never do."

"There were fifteen," said Dennis.--"Pass the cake, please, Maisie."

Maisie gave a little gulp of disappointment. It did not seem to her
that fifteen cats were at all too many for comfort and pleasure, but
Aunt Katharine knew best. So she drew a small handkerchief out of her
pocket, wiped the crumbs from her fingers, and struggled for composure.
Both she and Dennis thought the matter quite ended, for their aunt began
to talk of other things, and after tea she read to them as usual, and
not another word was said about the kittens until bed-time. It was
surprising, therefore, to hear her say as she shut up the book:

"Children, I have something to propose to you about the kittens. You
know I can't let you keep them, because it is against my rule, which I
should not have made unless it had been necessary; but, if you like to
find them two good homes, I will allow you to give them away this time."

"Oh auntie!" exclaimed Maisie, clapping her hands, "how lovely!"

"How long may we h