different manner, but he always came in
steadily now, and sat down hungrily to his meals, however scanty they
might be. Last of all, Dan, rosy-faced and cheerful, burst into the
room; and then supper began, with a great clatter of knives and forks.
Becky could not eat to-night, for she had far too much on her mind, but
she knew it would be quite impossible to say anything until the meal was
over. It seemed to last a long, long time, but at length Tuvvy gave his
chair a little push back from the table, took his pipe and an old
newspaper from his pocket, and settled himself to read. Mrs Tuvvy
pulled herself out of her seat with a weary sigh, and began to journey
backward and forwards with the empty dishes to the back kitchen. Now
was the time.

"Dan," said Becky, "come here; I've got summat to tell yer."

Dan left off unlacing his boots, and at once went to his sister's side,
but poor Becky's heart was so big with her sad story, that it was some
time before she could make it plain to him. When he did understand it,
he sat silent for a long while, with his lips pursed up, as though he
were whistling.

"Say summat, Dan," cried Becky, in an agony at last.

"If so be," began Dan slowly, "as how it's Miss Maisie's kitten, 'tain't
ours."

The kitten had finished its supper, and stretched itself out to sleep,
just under Becky's chin. She gazed at her brother over its back, as
though he were Fate itself, but said nothing.

"And we allers said," he went on, "as how we was very grateful to Master
Dennis alonger of what he did for father."

Becky nodded. She knew that. It had made part of her day-dreams for
months past.

"But there didn't seem any way to show it, because they're so rich and
we're poor." Becky trembled at what was coming, as Dan went on in an
even voice, very low, so as not to disturb his father. "And now we've
got a thing to give. Course if I hadn't fought for it, and you hadn't
took care on it, 'twouldn't a been alive now at all. So we'll give it
to 'em cheerful, and be glad to do it."

This was poor comfort.

"Oh, I don't want to give it up," cried Becky. "I ain't glad to let it
go. I'm that fond of it."

"Miss Maisie, she was fond of it too, wasn't she?" said Dan.

Becky nodded. "She loved it best of the three, Miss Trevor said. But
she's got another cat, and I've got ne'er a one but this."

"Maybe," said Dan doubtfully, "I could get yer another you'd like as
well in time."

Bec