50 THE SIX KITTENS.

Tabby, whom she had seen coming home in a sad condition about
five o’clock in the morning, when she, Miss Violet, was taking
her early walk ;—just at this moment there sounded a tap at the
door, and presently in came Diana, the youngest sister, bearing
in her hand more cakes for tea, and in the plate with them a
note addressed to Miss Rose,— the next to Violet in age, and by
most people considered the beauty of the family. Violet took
the letter eagerly from Diana; but when she saw the address, she
remarked that it was evidently a gentleman’s handwriting, and
tossing her head somewhat disdainfully, she handed it to Miss
Rose, who blushed very much, and retired with it to the sofa.
Rose opened the note with trembling paws, and a sweet smile
played on her features as she read its contents; then, carefully
folding it up, she observed to her sisters that it was merely an
invitation for a walk, and springing on to the back of the sofa,
she jumped through the open window, and retired to her own
summer-house up a fine sycamore-tree in the garden.

This incident, as may be imagined, caused a great sensation
among the sisters; and all wondered very much who could have
been the writer of the note that had so evidently pleased Miss
Rose. One hoped it was not from that scapegrace Tom who lived
at the Farm-yard; another feared it might come from young
Marten Sable of the Forest ; and Violet demanded of her youngest
sister what sort of person it was who had brought the note.
Diana did not know, but believed it was a relation of old
Mr. Weasel, who belonged to the same farm that Tom did. This
set them all guessing again, for it was well known that Tom and
Old Weasel did not speak to each other: and in the end they
were all just as wise as in the beginning.