and bushy, and her eyes grew dark and bright as she trotted off toward
the wood shed where, in a barrel of nice smelling shavings, her
neighbor had set up housekeeping.

Tarlequin was not at home that morning. Topsy did not stop to knock,
but gave a big spring and landed right in the middle of the babies'
bed. Then she took one of the babies right in her mouth by the loose
skin at the back of its neck, jumped out of the barrel, and ran home as
fast as she could. She laid the stolen kitten softly down on her own
bed, and began to wash it all over with her funny rough tongue.

Soon the kitten began to cry, for it was hungry and missed its own
mother.

Alice heard the strange sound and ran to find out what it could be.

When Topsy saw her little mistress, she curled herself up all around
the stolen baby and began to growl and hiss, something she had never
done to Alice before.

"Oh, mamma, do come and see what Topsy has found!"

"Well, well!" said mamma. "It is one of Tarlequin's babies. Where did
she get it?"

"Why are Topsy's eyes so shiny, and why does she growl at me, mamma? I
am afraid to touch her," said Alice.

"She thinks that you are going to take the kitten away, little
daughter; but it will never do to let her keep it. Tarlequin will miss