268 HOME AND GARDEN 



In the middle of the sitting-room we placed a 

 small, rather low, round table ; and four stools were 

 ranged round for the bigger pussies. As the hour 

 for the feast drew near, much was the wondering 

 as to how the guests would behave. They were to 

 sit on the stools with their fore-paws on the edge 

 of the tablecloth. We decided not to have flowers, 

 because it would have overcrowded the space, as the 

 two kittens were to be allowed to sit on the table. 



At last the hour came, and meanwhile the excite- 

 ment had grown intense. Five grown-ups were pre- 

 sent, all as keenly interested as the little girl. The 

 pussies were brought and placed on their stools, and 

 the kittens, Chloe and Brindle, were put up to their 

 saucers upon the table. To our great delight they 

 all took in the situation at once ; there was only a 

 little hesitation on Maggie's part ; she thought it 

 was not manners to put her paws on the tablecloth ; 

 but this was soon overcome, and they all set to work 

 as if they were quite accustomed to tea-parties and 

 knew that nice behaviour was expected. 



It was good to watch the pleasure of my little 

 niece. I had expected that she would rush about 

 and scream with delight, but she stood perfectly 

 silent and still, with hands half raised, mouth a little 

 open, and big eager eyes drinking in the scene, as if 

 she thought it would vanish if she made a movement. 

 Meanwhile the small guests were steadily eating 

 away at their portions. Pinkieboy, as became the 



