5A, THE SIX KITTENS.

‘« Pussicat’s Poems,” and retiring to the garden, read the tenderest
parts. Violet, overcome with the fatigue of a recent mouse-hunt,
went to sleep on the sofa; the younger ones busied themselves
with their crochet and net-work; and Miss Paulina, saying she
was going to call on a neighbour, with her best lace-Bordered
handkerchief in her hand, sallied forth and took her way towards
the forest. Now it so happened that young Marten Sable was
leaning against a tree, tapping his heel with his cane, and medi-
tating very profoundly at the entrance of the very walk towards
which Paulina bent her steps. He. started at her approach, and
with a sad but eager countenance ran to meet her.

‘‘ What has happened, Marten,” cried Paulina, “ that you look
so miserable? tell me directly, I implore you;” and placing her
hand on his arm, she looked piteously in his face. Marten hung
his head and seemed overcome with grief; at last he said in a low
husky voice, ‘“‘ We must part, Paulina; but it will be only for a
time; my father has ordered me to set out for Russia to visit his
forests there, and, my darling Paulina,—how can I bear the
thought !—it will be six months before I see you again.” Paulina
covered her face with her paws and wept bitterly; at last rousing
herself, she said, “‘Let us not, Marten, spend our last evening thus;
come, six months will soon pass, and then—’’ Here Paulina’s voice
dropped, and Marten threw his arms round her waist and kissed
away the tears. |

We know of every word that Marten said to Paulina, and of
Paulina’s every reply, for we had it all from a young hedgehog
whose curiosity led her to listen to their talk; but we think that
the hedgehog did wrong to listen, and so, perhaps, did we to listen