104 
SIGNS OF PENITENCE. 
“Thank you, boys!” This “thank you” 
seemed to come easier than the last. 
“If you have any thing to do,” said Rich¬ 
ard, turning to the girl, “we will sit here 
with Jack till your mother corner.” She 
gladly accepted the offer; and, the baby 
being by this time asleep, she was soon heard 
making a great clattering among the dishes 
outside. Richard and Sidney smoothed the 
bed as well as they knew how, shook up the 
pillow, and opened a window to admit the 
fresh air, which was much needed, and then 
sat down, feeling rather awkward now that 
there was no more to be done. 
Jack first broke the silence. “ What has 
become of that cat?” he asked. “That 
kitten, you know ?” 
“She is at our house,” replied Sidney, 
“ and we are going to keep her. She is a 
pretty little thing, as full of fun as she can 
be.” 
“I have been sorry about that ever since,” 
said Jack, without looking up. “ I didn’t 
mean to hit you, Dick. Row, really I didn’t!” 
“You need not mind about that,” replied 
Richard. “It is well now; and, to speak 
plainly, Jack, I don’t think that was half so 
