S " This," said Sylvester, " is none other 

 than Barbara, the dear friend of my middle 

 age, the comfortable inmate of my home. 

 Barbara, what brings thee here, for to thee, 

 too, death came many years ago ? I had 

 known thee anywhere by thy purr and thy 

 four white paws and the love thou showest 

 me." 



38 " What brings me here ? " said Barbara. 

 " Merely my own desire and the convenience 

 of the bushes by which the road is bordered. 

 It was open to me to stay away, but after all 



I honour friendship and " Here she 



broke off, for a leaf impelled by the breeze 

 had drifted past her and she had darted after it. 

 S8 Now, as Sylvester stood there wondering 

 and thanking Heaven for its goodness, he 

 heard a fluttering of little wings, and a small 

 bird, dropping as it were from the sky, circled 

 round his head and perched upon his shoulder. 

 It pecked gently at his cheek and lips, ruffled 

 its breast-feathers, and piped a song of happi- 

 ness. 



55 < " How 



