Meanwhile Posy and Tom were out in

the yard, or rather seated on the step of the kitchen door, watching the barn-kittens playing. The gray kitten played too, but more gently than the tiger-kittens.

"I'm going to bring out the house-kittens," said Posy; "they ought to have a good time too."

The house-cat was lying in the box beside her kittens when Posy came for them.

"I'm going to let your kitties play with the barn-kitties," said Posy in explanation to the house-cat, who looked rather startled at such a sudden interruption; "they ought to be out in the fresh air instead of sleeping in this hot kitchen. You needn't meaw so, for I shan't hurt them."

What the house-cat said was this,—

"I don't want my kittens playing with those rough barn-kittens; it will spoil their manners." But Posy didn't understand her; and it wouldn't have made any difference