The back yard was not a very pleasant place. It was very small to begin with, and the little space was littered with broken bottles and rubbish of various kinds. In one corner was a cistern nearly full of water, which had been standing long enough to become turbid.
"I don't know," said Rose, without much interest.
"I'll tell you," said Fanny, "we'll take a piece of wood, and sail it in the cistern. We can make believe it's a ship."
"Yes, he's the nicest boy that ever lived," said Rose, positively.
Rose was about to say something against Mr. Martin; but it occurred to her that if it came to the ears of the latter, she might fare the worse for it, and accordingly she stopped short.
Fanny picked up a stick, and began to sail it about in the cistern. After a while Rose went up, and looked on rather listlessly. At length Fanny got tired of this amusement, and began to look around for something better to do. In the corner of the yard she spied the cat, who was lying down in a lazy attitude, purring contentedly as she dozed.
"I know what I'll do," she said; "I'll have some fun with puss."
She lifted the sleepy cat, and conveyed her straightway to the cistern. This attracted the attention of Rose, who exclaimed, "What are you going to do?"
"I am going to see puss swim," said the mischievous girl.
Now Rose had a tender heart, and could not bear to see an animal abused. It always aroused all the chivalry in her nature, and her indignation in the present case overcame not only her timidity, but the depression she had felt at the separation from her friends.
"You shan't do it," she said, energetically.
"Mind your business!" said Fanny, defiantly. "It's my cat, and I'm going to put her into the water."
True to her declaration, she dropped the cat into the cistern.
Rose waited for no more, but ran to the cistern, and, pushing Fanny forcibly away, seized the cat by her neck, and pulled her out. Puss, on being rescued, immediately took to her heels, and soon was out of harm's way.
"What did you do that for?" exclaimed Fanny, flaming with rage.
"You had no right to put the cat in the water," retorted Rose, intrepidly.
"I'll put you in the water," said Fanny. "I wish you were drowned."
"I don't want you to. I don't care about playing with a girl that behaves so."