about them all. She trusted us— with an ear 

 pricked and eyes watchful. But they were safe, 

 and in a prideful, self-conscious, young-mother 

 way she began to wash the five. 



Some one stood between her and the hat when 

 the kittens were lifted out and the squirrels 

 were put in their place. Calico did not see. 

 For a time she thought no more about them ; 

 she was busy washing and showing the others. 

 By and by it began to look as though she had 

 forgotten that there were more than five. She 

 could not count. But most mothers can number 

 their children, even if they cannot count, and 

 soon Calico began to fidget, looking up at the hat 

 which the hungry, motherless squirrels kept 

 rocking. Then she leaped out upon the floor, 

 purring, and bounded upon the table, going 

 straight to the young squirrels. 



There certainly was an expression of surprise 

 and mystification on her face as she saw the 

 change that had come over those kittens. They 

 had shrunk and faded from two or three bright 

 colors to a single pale pink. She looked again 

 and sniffed them. Their odor had changed, too. 

 She turned to the watchers about the table, but 

 [82] 



