After he had licked his paw dry, he ventured over to the saucer again, smelled around the edge, and then deliberately dipped in his paw and proceeded to lap it dry once more.
“Isn’t he the cunningest little thing that ever was?” demanded Tess, clapping her hands. Dot was so greatly moved that she had to sit down and just watch the black and white kitten. She could not speak for happiness, at first, but when she _did_ speak, she said:
“Isn’t it nice that there’s such things as kittens in the world? I don’t s’pose they are useful at all till they’re _cats_, but they are awfully pretty!”
“Isn’t she the little, old-fashioned thing?” murmured Mrs. Adams.
Tess and Dot were very much at home and the kittens were curled up in the basket again in apparent contentment, when Agnes returned.
She had Sandy-face in a sack, and it was just about all Agnes could do to carry the cat without getting scratched again. For Sandy’s claws came through the flimsy bag, and she knew not friend from foe in her present predicament.
“I declare! I had no idea cats had so little sense,” Agnes sighed, sitting down, quite heated. “Wouldn’t you think she’d be _glad_ to be taken to a good home—and with her kittens, too?”
“Maybe _we_ wouldn’t have any more sense if we were being carried in a sack,” said Tess, thoughtfully.
“Well!” exclaimed Aggie. “She knew enough to go back to Mr. Stetson’s store, that’s sure. He had to catch her for me, for Myra was out. He says we’ll have to watch her for a few days, but I don’t believe she’d have left her kittens if that bad Sam Pinkney hadn’t come along with his dog—do you, Mrs. Adams?”
“No, deary. I think she’ll stay with the kittens all right,” said the old lady, comfortingly.
“Well, let’s go on home, girls,” said Agnes, rising from the step. “We’ve bothered Mrs. Adams long enough.”
“We’ve had an awfully nice time here,” said Tess, smiling at the old lady, and not forgetful of her manners.
“I’m glad you came, dearies. Come again. I’m going to have a little party here for you Corner House girls, some day, if you’ll come to it.”
“Oh, I just _love_ parties,” declared Dot, her eyes shining. “If Ruth will let us we’ll come—won’t we, Tess?”
“Of course we’ll come, Mrs. Adams,” cried Agnes, as she led the way with the me-owing cat in the sack, while the two smaller girls carried the sleeping kittens with care.