school were forgotten.




VII

THE ZEBRA KITTEN


It began with Zee. By this time her young mistress had become very much
attached to her; and so indeed had all the "Dunlee party." Even Mrs.
Dunlee petted the kitten and said she was the most graceful creature she
had ever seen, except, perhaps, the dancing horse, Thistleblow. Eddo
loved her because "she hadn't any pins in her feet" and did not resent
his rough handling. The "little two" loved her because she allowed them
to play all sorts of games with her. They could make believe she was
very ill and tuck her up in bed, and she would swallow meekly such
medicine as alum with salt and water without even a mew.

"She is so amiable," said Edith. "And then that wonderful tail of hers,
mamma! 'Twould bring, I don't know how much money, at a cat fair. It's a
regular _prize_ tail, you see!"

An animal like this merited extra care. She was not to be put off like
an everyday cat with saucers of milk and scraps of meat; she must have
the choicest bits from the table.

"Mrs. McQuilken says the best-fed cats make the best mousers," said
Edith.