32 BRUNO 



in several successive sets of kittens. They and 

 Bruno frolicked through the days, with exciting 

 interruptions in the shape of the milkman's 

 calls, Julius's returns from the office, and occa- 

 sional visits from the neighbors' children. 



For greater convenience we always spoke 

 collectively of Bruno, Rebecca and her kits, as 

 "the cattle." 



The milkman's daily calls never grew stale 

 to them. They generally heard his bell before 

 Julius or I suspected he was near, and would 

 all go to the sidewalk to meet him. Bruno 

 would leap the fence; Rebecca and her kits 

 would creep through. As soon as the milk was 

 poured out, they all raced to the back piazza to 

 wait for their share of it. When the dish was 

 filled and placed before them on the floor, Bruno 

 stood back with drooping ears, watching them 

 drink. He seemed to feel that it would not be 

 fair to pit his great flap of a tongue against 

 their tiny rose-leaves. They always left some 

 for him, which he devoured in two or three 

 laps, while they all sat about washing their 

 faces. I don't think he cared for the milk ; he 

 took it to be sociable, and seemed to be as well 

 satisfied with a swallow or two as he was after 

 drinking the dishful I sometimes offered him. 



