play as usual.

Minnie had sometimes been disposed to smile to see Fidelle sitting
upright, with her eyes tightly closed; and Ida acknowledged that the
first time she saw her looking so demure, as though she understood and
appreciated every word that was said, she had to bite her lips to keep
from laughing outright.

When Mrs. Lee told them what Fidelle had done, her husband was delighted
with this proof of her intelligence. He said her conduct while they were
engaged in devotion was an example to all of them, and wished Poll would
take a lesson of her.

With this incident occurring under their own notice, their interest in
the stories was increased, and after tea, Mr. Lee read among others the
following:--

"A little black spaniel had five puppies, which were considered too many
for her to bring up. As, however, they were a rare kind of dog, her
mistress was unwilling that any of them should be destroyed; and she
asked the cook whether she thought it would be possible to bring a
portion of them up by hand, before the kitchen fire. The cook answered
that the cat had several kittens, and she had no doubt, if they were
taken away, the puppies might be substituted.

"The cat made no objection, took to them kindly, and gradually all the
kittens were taken away, and she nursed the two puppies only.

"Now, the first curious fact was, that the two puppies were in a
fortnight as active, forward, and playful as kittens would have been.
They had the use of their legs, barked, and gamboled about, while the
other three nursed by the mother were whining and rolling about like fat
slugs.

"The cat gave them her tail to play with; and they were always in
motion. They soon ate meat, and long before the others, they were fit to
be removed. This was done; and the cat became inconsolable. She prowled
about the house, and on the second day of tribulation, fell in with the
little spaniel, who was nursing the other three puppies.

"'O,' said puss, putting up her back, 'it is you who have stolen my
children.'

"'No,' replied the spaniel, with a snarl, 'they are my own flesh and
blood.'

"'That won't do,' said the cat. 'I'll take my oath before any justice
of the peace, that you have my two puppies.' Thereupon there was a
desperate combat, which ended in the defeat of the spaniel; and then the
cat walked off proudly with one of the puppies, which she took to her
own bed.

"Having deposited this one, she returned, fought again, g