n
Gambetta, who sat with rather a vexed look on his face by the small
fire.

Presently he rose, stretched himself, humped his back, and then jumped
up on his mistress' lap.

"Fi donc!" said she, settling her knees more comfortably for him.

"That is a fine cat," remarked Aunt Hannah; "a great pet, no doubt?"

"You say truly, Madame," replied Delphine gently rubbing Gambetta under
the chin; "but above all with my brother. I may say that Gambetta is
the pupil of his eye. How often have I made him reproaches because he
will leave the best of his potage, and pour it in the saucer for this
cat! And that in the days when there was not too much potage, look you,
for either of us. On his side the animal adores Adolphe. He knows his
step, he has his little pleasantries for him, and his caresses. When my
brother arrives at night tired, and perhaps a little dejected, it is
Gambetta who knows how to cheer him. And then, he reminds us of Paris,
he is the only thing of value we brought from there. He is an exile as
well as we, and has shared our fortunes."

"No wonder you are so fond of him," said Aunt Hannah; "but I see he has
no collar. Are you not afraid of losing such a valuable cat?"

"That is often in my mind," replied Mademoiselle. "I fear it may arrive
some day, for at times he makes long courses. The next time we have a
little money to spare we will buy him one, and cause the address to be
graved upon it."

Both Susan and Sophia Jane listened with much interest to all this, and
the latter was particularly impressed by it; she looked from Delphine's
expressive face to Gambetta's when the collar was mentioned, and seemed
about to ask a question, but checked herself suddenly. Grace being now
produced from a table drawer, it was found that Mademoiselle's clever
fingers had actually made for her a new bonnet, a most elegant one, of
drawn grey silk. While Susan was admiring it, Delphine turned to Sophia
Jane:

"And the leetle companion?" she said, "has she also a poupee?"

Sophia Jane hung her head, and looked rather ashamed. "Only one without
a head," she muttered.

"Ah! that is sad indeed," said Mademoiselle. "It is impossible to
fashion a bonnet for a lady without a head, is it not? But when you
have a new one, I will also make her a bonnet like this. I have yet
some more silk."

Susan could not help giving a glance full of meaning at her companion,
but Sophia Jane did not respond to it, except by