self, however. She only repeated that _of
course_ the white kitten was the right one to go to Haughton, and though
she generally yielded to Dennis, she remained firm in this, and by the
time they reached home the matter was quite settled. The white kitten
was thus provided with a good home; and though, on thinking it over,
Maisie doubted whether Philippa would consider it a "magnificent
present," she had no misgivings as to its future happiness.

CHAPTER THREE.

OLD SALLY'S ELIZA.

The time soon came when Madam was allowed to bring her kittens into the
play-room, where they lived in a basket near the French window, through
which she could go in and out at her pleasure.

Dennis and Maisie were now able to make their close acquaintance, and to
observe that they were not at all alike either in appearance or
character. The black one continued to be the finest of the three.
There could be no question that his coat was sleeker, his tail more
bushy, his whole shape more substantial, and even at this early age he
showed signs of a bold and daring disposition.

When his mother had disposed herself for a comfortable nap, with her
eyes shut and her paws tucked in, he would suddenly dart from some
ambush, his eyes gleaming with mischief and leap upon her back. Soundly
cuffed for this, he would meekly retreat until Madam had dropped off
again, when he would come dancing up sideways, on the tips of his toes,
with his back hunched, and every hair bristling, and tweak her by the
tail. After these pranks had been repeated many times, the old cat
would rise and wrestle with him, rolling over and over on the ground,
kicking and biting, until he was subdued for a little while. But he was
never good for long, and gave her more trouble than the other two put
together.

The white kitten was of a very different nature. It was decidedly prim
in its ways, and very particular about its appearance, so that it
learned sooner than the others to wash its face, and attend to its
toilet. While the black kitten struggled violently when he was washed,
and had to be held firmly down all the while, the white one seemed to
enjoy licking its fur with its own rough little tongue, and to be quite
vexed if it found a dirty spot on its coat. "It's a good thing it's so
particular," said Maisie, "because it would look so very bad if it
wasn't quite clean." It had rather a meaningless face, a long thin
nose, and mincing, dainty ways of walking