in the steam-room," said George.

No sooner said than done. Charley carried the kitten one block, and then
George the next, and so on in turn, until at last they got back to the
hotel, and rushed down into the laundry, where Juliet was beginning to
feel worried at their long absence.

"La sakes!" she cried, when she saw the plight they were in, "whar have
you ben gone? Why, you look jes like ole Bobby de ash-man. Whar you get
dat ar cat? Why, George Washington! you's a disgrace to your raisin'!
How you spec' I'se gwine' to make you look genteel if you cum home dat
ar way?"

"Oh," said George, rolling his eyes at his mother--"oh, we've had such
s'prising 'wenters; we went to see a whale."

"Whale! is dat what you call a whale?" said Juliet, pointing to the poor
little kitten, which he was hugging tight to his breast.

Then Charley spoke up, and when Juliet had heard of the "surprising
adventures," she was sorry she had been the least bit cross with the
kind-hearted little fellows. To make up for it, she gave the kitten a
saucer of warm milk, and taking off the soiled clothes of the boys, and
washing their faces and hands, she put two funny little night-gowns upon
them, and popped them into her bed, which was in a little room next to
the laundry. Then she caught up their clothes--for there was no time to
be lost--and popped _them_ into a tub of hot water, with plenty of soap,
and in ten minutes they were just as clean as soap, water, and hard
rubbing could make them.

Then she wrung them out with a will, shook them out with a flourish, and
running into the steam-room, hung them upon a horse--a clothes-horse, of
course. In ten minutes more they were dry enough to iron, and she
polished them with the hot and heavy irons at such a rate that they
fairly shone, and she shone too.

When the boys were called, and Juliet put on their clothes again, they
looked cleaner, brighter, and happier than ever.

The kitten was adopted as a friend too, and had soon shook and licked
itself clean, and it lived a very comfortable life down in the laundry.

One day, for a wonder, Charley's mother staid at home. She was expecting
a call from her lawyer, Judge Spencer, upon some business. When he came
he had a long talk with Charley.

Presently Charley said: "I want to tell you something. I've a friend;
his name is George."

"Only one friend?" asked the Judge, laughing.

"But he's my 'tic'lar friend," explained Charley. "May I brin