Part 2

"If I had minded my dear mother as well as that, I should not have been in this scrape," was Tabby's passing reflection, as she ventured to descend from the tree at the repeated invitations of the young gentleman, still, however, keeping a watchful eye upon the dog, and ready to betake herself to her place of refuge the moment he showed signs of another attack. No sooner did she come within reach, however, than Mr. Warrington seized her, and despite her struggles, for she was now almost as much afraid of him as of the dog, he carried her into the house, and introduced her into a warm and light room, where the family were assembled at supper.

"See here, girls," said he, as he held her out by the back of the neck, "here is some company for you."

"Another cat! I do think you are out of you senses, George!" said a young lady who was seated at the table. "You know the children will torment its life out, and a kitten is a nuisance in the house, at any rate."

"We shan't either. That is just like you, Barbara!" said a little girl about the age of Ella Merriam. "Always meddling. Do give her to me, George!"

"No, give her to me," exclaimed a younger girl and a boy both together.

"Don't give her to Aggy, give her to me. Aggy has got the parrot now."

"And Dora has got the gold-fish. I think you might give her to me, George."

"I have not said I should give her to anybody yet," said George, stroking Tabby, who began to think she had got among a queer set of people.

"I think, if I make a present to any one, it will be to Tessy, who has not asked for it at all."

The eyes of the little girl who sat at the end of the table began to sparkle, and she said gratefully, "Thank you, George. I shall like it so much. I have always wanted a tortoise-shell kitten."

"Tessy gets everything," said Agnes, her pretty face flushing with ill temper. "I wish I was lame, and then perhaps I might get something done for me."

"For shame, Agnes!" said Barbara. "How can you speak so of your cousin, as though she would be lame if she could help it? I think you have made a wise choice, George, though I am afraid the poor cat will not fare the better for it."

"I won't have any quarrelling about it, children," said Mrs. Warrington, who had hitherto kept silence. "I wish you had not brought her in at all, George, but since you have, you had better let her go into the kitchen and get something to eat."

"O mother! Do let us feed her here," exclaimed Dora and Charley together. "Let us give her some milk under the table."

"You know I do not like to have cats fed at the table," Mrs. Warrington began, but her voice was overborne in a torrent of remonstrance.

"Yes, mother! What harm will it do? Old Brindle always ate up here. Do give us some milk for her."

"Well," said Mrs. Warrington resignedly, giving way as usual, "only don't spill the milk on the carpet."

"I think the kitchen is the best place for her, for my part, if she is to stay at all," said Agnes. "A little dirty thing; she is not half as pretty as old Brindle was."

"Agnes thinks the grapes are sour," said Dora, as she set down a china saucer half full of milk. "She thought it was a beautiful kitten till George gave it to Tessy."

"Dora!" said her mother reprovingly.

"Well, she did, mother, you know she did."

"I wonder what Mrs. Merriam would say if Miss Ella or Miss Marian were to speak to her or to each other in that way?" thought Tabby to herself.

She drank the milk eagerly, and then looked up expecting something more, but nobody offered her anything, though there was cold meat on the table, and she would have been very glad even of a piece of dry bread. At last, the little girl called Tessy took a crust from her plate and offered it to her, but she had hardly seized it, before Agnes and Charley both exclaimed: "There, mother, Theresa is feeding her off her plate!"

"I am surprised at you, Theresa," said Mrs. Warrington severely. "You know I have forbidden the cats to be fed in the dining-room."

"She looked so hungry," said Tessy in excuse, her pale face flushing at the rebuke.

"Never mind how she looked. I told you once, and that was enough. I shall not let her stay here at all, if that is the way you are going to do."

"I don't see why it was any worse for Tessy than for Dora and Charley," said Barbara half aside to George. "But, poor girl, she has to take all the governing for the whole concern."

If Mrs. Warrington heard this speech, she did not see fit to notice it, and the whole party rose from the table, leaving Tabby alone in the dining-room, though Tessy looked longingly at her, as though she would have liked to carry her along.

"What children!" said Tabby to herself. "And what a cross woman! I am sure I never heard such goings-on at our tea-table, and I think it is a great deal pleasanter than this, though our dishes and tea-pots are not half so handsome. I think they might have offered me a bit of that cold meat; I am half-starved. I mean to have a piece at any rate."

So saying, she mounted upon a chair and was just reaching out her paw to the dish, when the door opened suddenly, and Agnes came in. Tabby made a hasty jump, and in her confusion, not seeing where she was going, she knocked a cup off the table, and broke it in two, besides spilling the tea all over the cloth.

"Oh! Ho! Miss Kitty! So that is the way you behave, is it?" said Agnes, seizing upon her as she tried to make her escape under the sideboard. "We shall see what mother will say to that!" And despite Tabby's efforts, she was carried off a prisoner to the drawing-room.

"Here is your beautiful tortoise-shell kitten, Miss Tessy! She has been up on the table, eaten all the cold meat, and broken two or three cups and saucers!" Such was Agnes's announcement, made in a tone of ill-natured triumph, as she entered the drawing-room with Tabby squeezed under her arm.

"Oh! What a story!" thought Tabby, as she struggled to escape from the pressure of Agnes's elbow. "I never touched the cold meat, and I only broke one cup."

"So much for bringing a strange cat into the house," said Mrs. Warrington in displeasure, and looking at Theresa as if she were the cause of all the mischief. "I will have her sent off or put out of the way to-morrow."

"Stop, mother. Remember she is my cat," said George. "I am not sure about having her disposed of so summarily. It was not right to leave her alone in the room with the meat. I daresay she was half-starved, poor thing."

"If you had given her to Agnes, she would not have been so ready to tell of her," said Dora. "Tabby is not the first who has taken things off the table." Tabby was quite surprised to hear herself called by her name, not knowing that it was one commonly applied to tortoise-shell cats.

"It is no worse to take things off the table than out of the cupboard," retorted Agnes.

"You need not squeeze the poor thing so, at any rate," said Charley, trying to pull Tabby away.

But Agnes held her fast, and the poor kitten began to think she would be torn in pieces between them. She uttered such a pitiful cry that Tessy started from her chair, and exclaimed, as her eyes filled with tears: "Oh! Don't hurt her so, poor little thing! Give her to me, please, Charley," she added imploringly, as Charley succeeded in gaining possession of her.

Charley hesitated, but he saw his elder brother's eye fixed upon him, and he had his reasons for not caring to disoblige George so near to Christmas time. "Take her then," he said rather sullenly, holding her out to Theresa, who took her and began smoothing her fur, ruffled by the violence of the children, "but I don't believe mother will let you keep her—will you, mother?"

"I certainly shall not have her about, if she gets on the table," said Mrs. Warrington with decision. "I think if people must have a cat, the barn is the best place for her. You had better take her out now, Charley, before she does any more mischief."

"Wait till Tessy goes to bed, mother," interposed Barbara, who had left the room a few minutes before, and now came back in time to hear her mother's last words. "The kitten has not done much harm after all. She has only broken that cup which has been cracked for a long time, and the meat is quite untouched. I would learn to tell a story straight, if I were Agnes."

"I would learn to mind my own affairs if I were Barbara," retorted Agnes, vexed that her sister should expose her exaggerations.

"Hush, Agnes," said her mother. "I am glad it was no worse. That cup has been unfit to be seen this long time, and so I have told Jane, but she would always set it out. I am really glad it is out of the way. You can keep the kitten till bed-time, Tessy, if you like, but don't let her get on any of the tables here."

Tabby had not the least inclination to get out of the lap of her kind little protectress, who stroked her so softly, and allowed her to lie quietly and recover her breath, after the rough treatment to which she had been subjected. By and by Tabby began to regain her spirits, to wash herself and to purr in answer to Tessy's gentle caresses. She had hardly ever been willing to lie in Ella Merriam's lap, though her little mistress never punished her in her life, but she was beginning to know a little of the value of kindness.

The children took very little more notice of her, but busied themselves with some games and puzzles, quarrelling and snapping at each other every few minutes. George and Barbara played chess and talked to each other, and Mrs. Warrington sat at a little table under the gas-light, and busied herself with some very curious-looking knitting. Tessy had her knitting to, but she spent most of her time patting and talking to Tabby, who now began to show off some of her accomplishments in the line of playing. At last Tessy's ball rolled out of her lap, and Tabby jumped after it, and brought it back in her mouth, as Marian had taught her to do. Tessy clapped her hands with delight.

"See, aunt—see, George! She has brought my ball back to me. What a dear little kitty!"

"I don't believe she did it on purpose," said Charley. "Try her again, Tessy."

Tessy rolled the ball and Tabby sprang after it, bringing it in her mouth as before, and jumping up into Tessy's lap.

"She is a cunning little thing," said Mrs. Warrington, after the experiment had been successfully repeated a number of times. "I never saw a cat do as much as that."

Tabby was delighted to see the effect of the favourable impression she had made, and tried the effect of her other grand feats, sitting up very straight on her hind legs, and putting her paws over her nose, as she had seen her mother do when begging for something to eat. She even went so far as to lie down on her back and roll over, a feat she had always been very unwilling to perform for Miss Ella, but she felt the necessity of making herself agreeable in her new situation.

Every one, even Agnes, agreed that she was a very pretty kitten, and wonderfully clever, but no one talked of getting her anything to eat, as she had hoped they would do. And when bed-time came, Mrs. Warrington gave her to Charley, and ordered him to give her to Jem to be carried out to the barn.

"Won't Carlo kill her if she is put out in the barn?" Tessy remonstrated.

"Oh! She can get up on the beams out of his way," replied Mrs. Warrington carelessly.

Tessy still looked very unhappy, and George remarking it, took the kitten from Charley's hands, saying to Tessy, "I will carry her out myself, and give Carlo a lesson on the subject. I will engage that he shall not touch her if I tell him not to do so. They will be the best friends in the world in a week's time."

"Friends with that horrible great dog! That I am sure I never shall," said Tabby to herself. "O my dear mother! What would you say if you knew that I was going to be put into such a place?" And for the first time Tabby began to wish she had been a better kitten.

George carried her out to the barn, and setting her down, called Carlo to him, who came out of his nest rather unwillingly. His eyes glistened when he saw the kitten, and he licked his great jaws in a way that made poor Tabby feel as though she were already devoured. Mr. George sat down on a box, and placing the kitten on his knee, he called Carlo up to him.

"See here, Carlo," said he, as Carlo came slowly along, "I want to show you this kitten. This is 'my' kitten, and you must not hurt her. Do you hear?"

Carlo turned his head round as far as he could, so as not to see Tabby, but Mr. George forced him to look at her.

"Now remember!" said he, as he set the kitten down on the floor under his nose. "You must not hurt her yourself, nor let any other dog meddle with her. You must take good care of her."

Carlo looked at the kitten and then at his master, wagged his tail, and nodded his head, as much as to say, "I will do as you tell me."

And George, satisfied that he would keep his word, took up the lantern and went out of the barn, shutting the door after him. No sooner was he gone than Tabby bounced up to the top of the manger, spitting and spreading out her tail, and making a tremendous fuss, as though she were going to eat somebody up in a moment. But Carlo only grinned good-naturedly, and went off to his bed in the straw, leaving Tabby to settle herself for the night as she pleased.

She did not feel like settling at all, for she had never slept away from her mother and Tody before, and besides she was very hungry, having had nothing since dinner except the milk the children had given her. Tabby had never caught a mouse in her life, though she had eaten two or three, and liked them very much; and she now began to speculate on the possibility of procuring one for her supper. She looked about a little, and seeing a very promising-looking hole under the manger, she settled herself to watch, as she had seen her mother do. She had not been long on the look-out, before a sharp nose and a pair of whiskers peeped out of the hole followed by a head and part of a body.

If Tabby had considered a moment, she would have seen that the head was much too large for that of a mouse, but she thought of nothing but her supper, and springing at the intruder, she seized him by the ears. In a moment she felt a sharp pain in her face, and discovered that she was caught in her turn by an enormous rat, very nearly as large as herself. In vain did she struggle and scratch; the rat held on, and presently another brown head was seen peering from the same hole.

Poor Tabby now gave herself up for lost, but at that moment she received efficient aid from a very unexpected quarter. Carlo had come out of his nest on hearing the scuffle, and seeing the state of the case, he bounced in among the combatants. The rats quickly retreated to their holes, leaving Tabby ready to faint from fear and fatigue.

"That rat had very nearly finished you, little kitty," said Carlo, after he had hunted through the straw, and smelt at the hole, to make sure that the enemy had left the field. "If I had not come in just as I did, he would have killed you as sure as a gun."

"I am sure I am very much obliged to you, Carlo," said poor Tabby, as soon as she could find breath. "I thought it was all over with me when I saw the second rat coming. Just see how he has bitten my face!"

"It is too bad!" said Carlo, giving the little face a compassionate lick with his great red tongue. "You should not try to catch rats yet, Tabby, you are quite too little. I should think a mouse would be quite as much as you could manage."

"I wish I could catch a mouse, any way," said Tabby with her eyes full of tears, as she licked the blood off her paws and breast. "I am so hungry I don't know what to do. O my dear mother! If I ever get back to you, I will be a better kitten than I have been."

"How did you come to leave your mother?" asked Carlo. "Did some one steal you, or did your people give you away?"

"I ran away," said Tabby, feeling very much ashamed as she made the confession. "I thought they did not use me well at home, and that it would be a very fine thing to seek my fortune. But if all the world is like what I have seen since dinner-time, I don't want to know any more about it. I am sure I never saw Miss Ella and Miss Merriam quarrel as the children here do." And then Tabby stopped, all at once, remembering how she had quarrelled with Tody that very morning.

"The world is a large place, and there are a great many different sorts of people in it," said Carlo thoughtfully. "I think if one has even a tolerably good home, it is best to stay in it while one can, and not try to improve one's condition by running away, one doesn't know where. But if you want to catch a mouse, there are plenty in this barn. I will show you where to watch, and I have no doubt you will find one very soon. Just call me if the rats trouble you again. Good-night."

Carlo showed Tabby a proper place to watch, and then lay down to sleep, but it was not till after two hours of patient waiting, and one or two disappointments, that she succeeded in catching a tolerably-sized mouse. Nothing that she had eaten in her life ever tasted half so good to her as this mouse; she only wished it had been twice as large; and having eaten all but the tail, she washed her face and paws, as her mother had taught her to do after meals, and then went and curled down in the straw close to Carlo, feeling as though his presence would be a protection, for she felt very friendless and lonely. Her face pained her very much at first, but it grew easier by degrees, and at last she fell asleep, and slept soundly till morning.

She was roused by the entrance of the stable-boy, who was very much surprised to see a kitten lying asleep between Carlo's paws. It was not long before a little lame step and the sound of a crutch was heard upon the brick walk outside, and Tabby, guessing by instinct to whom they belonged, ran to the door, and met Theresa, who had come out to seek her as soon as she was dressed.

"Oh! My dear little kitty! How glad I am to see you," she exclaimed, resting her crutch against the stable-door, and taking Tabby up in her arms. "But how did you hurt your poor little face so badly? Carlo, you naughty dog, did you bite my poor pussy?"

"I don't believe it was Carlo, Miss Theresa," said Jem; "I rather think a rat did that. I found her and Carlo sleeping on the straw together, as good friends as you please."

If it had been in Tabby's power, she would have told Tessy how Carlo had taken her part against the rats, and showed her how to catch a mouse for her supper. But she could not make her little mistress understand such a long story, so she had to content herself with rubbing her head against the old dog's legs, and looking up in his face to show that they were good friends. Tessy was very much pleased at this exhibition of good feeling between her two favourites; and taking Tabby in her arms, and followed by Carlo, she was soon at the kitchen-door, begging the cook to give her some cold meat for their breakfast.

Now Tessy, even in the short time she had been in her aunt's family, had become a great favourite with all the servants, from her kindness and her obliging manners, and they were all ready to do anything in their power for the little lame girl, who took such good care of her things and never gave them any unnecessary trouble. So as soon as Martha heard what it was that Tessy wanted, she went into the pantry and soon returned with a plateful of bits of cold meat and potatoes, bread-crumbs, and other scraps, which she set down before the hungry animals.

Tabby ate her share very thankfully, and did not grumble when Carlo took a large part of the meat for his share, leaving her the cold potatoes and crumbs. Could this be the same kitten who only twenty-four hours before had turned up her nose so scornfully at the cold hash, and would hardly condescend to eat a bit of chicken? Yes, but Tabby had learned more wisdom in that twenty-four hours than in all her life before; for she had learned to know when she was well off, and to appreciate the goodness of her kind mother and brother. She almost choked over her breakfast as she thought of Tody, and imagined how lonely he must be with nobody to play with; and she resolved that as soon as the weather moderated a little, she would find her way home, tell her mother how sorry she was, and endeavour to make amends for giving her so much trouble.

As Tessy stood leaning on her crutch watching Tabby and Carlo, some one called her from the top of the stairs, and looking up at the sound, she saw her cousin Barbara.

"What are you doing in the kitchen so early, Tessy?" asked Miss Warrington.

"I am feeding my kitten," said Tessy. "The rats have bitten her terribly; at least Jem says it is the rats, and I don't like to have her stay in the barn, but I don't know what to do with her."

"Why don't you take her into the play-room?" asked Barbara.

"I would," replied Tessy, "but—" she hesitated, and Barbara seemed to understand her.

"I know, but never mind, Tessy, try to keep the peace as long as you stay. Remember we shall go away after the holidays, and I am sure you will like being at school. You can take the kitten into my room, and play with her there in peace, for the children are all going out directly after breakfast. I know they are troublesome little torments, but it cannot be helped."

Theresa felt very grateful for the permission, but as she picked up Tabby and followed her cousin up stairs to her own room, she could not help thinking that Barbara did not always take the best way to help it, and that she might do a good deal to improve matters if she went to work in the right way.

Tessy had been used to a very different state of things. Her father and mother had been dead a long time, and she and her two little brothers had resided with an aunt, who took care of them. Tessy could not recollect having quarrelled with her brothers but twice in her life, and both times when they were all very little children. She well remembered how sorry and ashamed she had felt, and how glad they had all been to kiss and be friends again. When her good aunt died, and her brothers were placed in situations proper for them, she had been in some degree consoled for the distress of parting by the idea that in her cousins she should have companions of her own age, and little girls too.

But she had not been long in her aunt's family before she discovered that it was very possible for "children of one family" to be anything but pleasant companions. Agnes, Dora, and Charley quarrelled from morning till night. If Dora particularly liked any of her schoolmates, it was reason enough for Agnes to dislike her; and she never failed to take every opportunity of displaying her feelings. Dora, in her turn, hated all Agnes's pets, declaring that Madge, the parrot, was a perfect nuisance, and Mary Parker, Agnes's favourite playmate, the most disagreeable girl she had ever seen in her life. Charley was his mother's pet, and, secure in her favour, he teased every one in the house, except his brother George, of whom he stood considerably in awe.