presume there was not the zephyr's softness in my voice.

"Oh, ma'am!" She caught her breath as her eyes rested upon the cat
and the turkey. "Indeed, ma'am!" And then she made a spring towards
puss, who, nimbly eluding her, passed out by the way through which
she had come in.

By this time I had jerked open the oven door, when there came
rushing out a cloud of smoke, which instantly filled the room. My
puddings were burned to a crisp!

As for the turkey, the cat had eaten off one side of the breast, and
it was no longer fit for the table.

"Well! this is fine work!" said I, in an angry, yet despairing
voice. "Fine work, upon my word!"

"Oh, ma'am!" Kitty interrupted me by saying, "I'll run right off and
buy another turkey, and have it cooked in time. Indeed I will,
ma'am! And I'll pay for it. It's all my fault! oh dear! dear me! Now
don't be angry, Mrs. Smith! I'll have dinner all ready in time, and
no one will be any the wiser for this."

"In time!" and I raised my finger towards the kitchen clock, the
hands of which marked the period of half past one. Two o'clock was
our regular dinner hour.

"Mercy!" ejaculated the frightened cook, as she sank back upon a
chair; "I thought it was only a little past eleven. I am sure it was
only eleven when I sat down just to read a page or two while the