"Oh, then it's a bird," cried the little girl.

But her papa only shook his head.

"Maybe it's a bunny, then," said Alice.

"No, no, you will never guess right," laughed papa, "so I will have to
tell you. Just listen a moment," he said, as he held the basket close
to Alice's ear.

The little girl stood on her tiptoes and fairly held her breath. Soon
she heard a faint sound: "Meow! meow! meow!"

"It's a kitty! It's a kitty! Do open the basket quickly, papa," cried
Alice, dancing up and down and clapping her hands. Then she tried to
push her fingers under the cover.

Sure enough, when the basket was opened there lay a tiny kitten.

"Oh, isn't she black!" cried the little girl.

"Yes, indeed, she is," said Alice's papa. "I should call her Topsy.
There isn't a white hair in her whole glossy coat, from the tip of her
little pink nose to the end of her little black tail."

"What big yellow eyes! And oh, look! look! what funny feet she has!
Why are they so large, papa?" asked Alice.

"That's because she is a seven-toed kitten, little daughter. I expect
that she will catch a great many mice with those big feet of hers, when