i8o Baby and the Kitten 



never for an instant did it relax its hold, and in a 

 few moments it had extinguished all signs of life 

 in the rodent. Even then it did not cease to hold 

 it fast, so that when the nurse and members of the 

 family, who had heard the noise, came into the room, 

 they found the kitten still in possession of the in- 

 truder, which it stubbornly refused to relinquish. 



As time passed, it was plain that the kitten was 

 growing in size, in strength, and in knowledge, much 

 faster than the baby ; and yet this growth did not 

 seem to interfere in the least with the friendly rela- 

 tions that had always existed. So that when the 

 youthful cat, which had finally been named Clytie, 

 disappeared from the nursery for a period, the baby 

 not only missed it but mourned for it. And yet the 

 absence continued ; and while the baby did not pine, 

 it was manifest to both parents and the nurse that 

 he felt very unhappy over the loss of his companion. 

 One day, however, Clytie entered the nursery, look- 

 ing somewhat emaciated but very proud, and carrying 

 in her mouth a diminutive white kitten, which she 

 deposited in the crib. The baby was overcome by 

 its emotions. Joy at the sight of his friend, bewil- 



