% Justin and Ambrose did as they were de- 

 sired, and the cat advanced cautiously from 

 her hiding-place till she reached Sylvester, 

 against whose legs she rubbed herself, purring 

 ecstatically the while. 



% "This," said Sylvester, "is none other than 

 Barbara, the dear friend of my middle age, 

 the comfortable inmate of my home. Bar- 

 bara, 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." 

 ^fe "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. 



% Now, as Sylvester stood there wondering 



and thanking Heaven for its goodness, he 



heard a fluttering of little wings, and a small 



54 



