loudly.

Amanda Cary waited at the spring each day for Anne's appearance. Sometimes
the two little girls did not speak, and again Amanda would make some
effort to win Anne's notice.

"Your father is a soldier," she declared one morning, and when Anne nodded
smilingly, Amanda ventured a step nearer. "You may come up to my house and
see my white kittens if you want to," she said.

There could be no greater temptation to Anne than this. To have a kitten
of her own had been one of her dearest wishes, and to see and play with
two white kittens, even Amanda's kittens, was a joy not lightly to be
given up. But Anne shook her head, and Amanda, surprised and sulky, went
slowly back toward home.

The next morning, as Anne went toward the spring, she met Amanda coming up
the hill, carrying a white kitten in her arms.

"I was just going up to your house," said Amanda. "I was bringing up this
white kitten to give to you."

"Oh, Amanda!" exclaimed Anne, quite forgetting her old dislike of the
little girl, and reaching out eager hands for the kitten which Amanda gave
to her.

"My mother said that we could not afford to keep two kittens," Amanda
explained, "and I thought right off that I would give one to you."

"Thank you, Amanda," and then Anne's face grew sober, "but maybe my Aunt
Martha will not want me to keep it," she said.

"I guess she will," ventured Amanda. "I will go with you and find out, and
if she be not pleased I'll find some one to take it."

The two little girls trudged silently along over the sandy path. Anne
carried the kitten very carefully, and Amanda watched her companion
anxiously.

"If Mistress Stoddard says that you may keep the kitten may I stay and
play a little while?" she asked as they came near the Stoddard house.

"Yes," answered Anne, "you may stay anyway, and I will show you my
playhouse."

Amanda's thin freckled face brightened. "If she won't let you keep the
kitten you may come over to my house every day and play with mine," she
said; and almost hoped that Mistress Stoddard would not want the little
white cat, for Amanda was anxious for a playmate, and Anne was nearer her
age than any of the little girls of the settlement.

Mrs. Stoddard was nearly as much pleased with the kitten as Anne herself,
and Amanda was told that she was a good little girl, her past unkindness
was forgotten, and the two children, taking the kitten with them, went out
to the playhouse under the pines. Amanda w