?"

"I don't believe she could learn," said Philippa. "She's quite a
nuisance at meal times. She stands up and claws and mews until she is
fed. She doesn't give any peace."

Maisie looked shocked.

"That's not at all well-behaved," she said. "You oughtn't to let her do
that."

"I can't help it," answered Philippa. "I often box her ears, but it's
no good. She's a greedy cat, I think. Not so nice as this one, and
after all, black is a better colour than white, and Darkie has a bushy
tail."

Dennis looked triumphant, but Maisie was sorry to think that the white
kitten was not turning out well; and though she had never liked it as
much as the others, she felt it was not entirely its own fault.
Philippa evidently did not know how to manage cats. She was now on the
point of giving Darkie a large corner of buttered toast, when Dennis
interfered.

"You mustn't do that, please," he said firmly. "Darkie's _never_ fed at
meals. He has his tea afterwards in his own dish."

"Well!" said Philippa, looking very much surprised, "I _do_ call that
cruel. You don't mean to say you let him sit up like that for nothing!
Blanche wouldn't bear that. If we don't give her what she wants at
once, she cries so loud that we're obliged to."

"She's learned that of you, I suppose, hasn't she?" said Dennis.

He spoke without any intention of offending his cousin, and did not mean
to be rude; but Philippa drew herself up, and flushed a pale pink all
over her face.

"You're a rude boy," she said. Then after a pause, she gave a little
nod at him, and added, "Mother says you've just the air of a little
Hodge the ploughboy. So there!"

But this arrow did not hit the mark, though Philippa had aimed it as
straight as she could. Dennis did not mind being called a ploughboy a
bit. He had seen lots of them, and considered theirs an agreeable and
interesting occupation; so he only shrugged his shoulders, and left her
to recover her temper as she could.

It never answered to be cross at Fieldside, and Philippa had found this
out before. There was nothing gained by it. Maisie only looked
surprised and sorry, Dennis took no notice at all, and Aunt Katharine
was much too busy to spend any time in settling disputes. This being
the case, it was surprising to see how soon Philippa got over her
passionate fits, and was ready to behave as though nothing had happened.

It was so now, for though she was rather sulky with Dennis all the