d be alone
now until five o'clock, and must pass the time as they could. The
morning went quickly enough, and when it was nearly one o'clock the
kitten, who knew it was dinner-time, began to mew and look up at the
shelf.

Becky sighed a little as she took down the mug and plate. There
certainly was not "much," as Mrs Tuvvy had said, and, moreover, what
there was did not look tempting, for there was only a little watery milk
and a piece of hard bread and cheese.

"I wish we had nourishing things for dinner, kitty," she said, as she
poured some milk into a saucer, and crumbled some bread into it. "You'd
like pies and chickens and such, shouldn't you? and so should I. I
don't seem to care about bread and cheese."

The kitten ate up its portion eagerly and looked for more, with a little
inquiring mew.

"No, no, Kitty," answered Becky, "there ain't no more to-day. To-day's
Friday, you know. We'll have to wait and see what mother brings back
for supper. P'r'aps it'll be fried fish or sausages--think of that!
You must wash your face now, and go to sleep, and the time'll soon
pass."

The kitten soon took the last part of this advice, and curled itself
into a soft little ball beside its mistress, but somehow Becky could not
sleep this afternoon. The sofa seemed to be harder than usual, full of
strange knobs and lumps that were not generally there. Whichever way
she tried to lie was more uncomfortable than the last; the room felt hot
and stifling, the rain pattered with a dull sound against the window,
and her back began to ache badly. Presently she left off trying to go
to sleep, and a few tears dropped on to the kitten's furry back. It
would be such a long time before any one came home!

Just then a horse's hoofs clattered down the street, and there was a
smart rap on the door. It was flung open, and on the threshold stood Dr
Price, booted and spurred, the eager white faces of Snip and Snap in the
background, with their tongues lolling out thirstily. Poor Becky
clutched her kitten to her breast in terror.

"Oh," she cried, "the dogs! Don't let 'em come in. I've got a cat!"

But it was too late. Snip and Snap were in already, running round the
kitchen in search of game, sniffing and poking their black noses
everywhere. In another minute Becky felt sure they would leap on the
sofa, and snatch the kitten from her.

"Oh, _do_ send 'em out," she cried in an agony. "They'll kill it."

"Not they," said t