All this, however, did not sour its temper in the least, and after the worst slight or roughest usage it was quite ready to purr and be pleased. Maisie thought this very nice of it, and she was sure it was anxious to do well, if it only knew how. It would allow her, with very few struggles, to dress it in a doll's nightgown and cap, and put it to sleep in a cradle; which neither of the others would submit to for a moment. By degrees she became very fond of it, and the more she took its part and defended it from ill-treatment, the more her affection increased. It was therefore distressing to remember, as the days went on, that though the white kitten had a home to look forward to, there was yet no such prospect for the grey one. "It's getting dreadfully near the time," she said one morning to Dennis, who was trying to teach the black kitten to jump through his hands; "only ten days more, and we haven't got a good home for the grey kitten yet." "It's such a common, mean thing," said Dennis, casting a scornful glance at it. "No one could want to have it." "It's very affectionate, though," said Maisie, "and it purrs more than any of them. I believe it might grow pretty when it's older." "Not it," said Dennis. "Why, there are lots of cats like it in the village now. Just long, lean, striped things. I don't believe you'd know it apart from them when it's grown up.--Oh, look, Maisie, look! He jumped, he really did." Maisie looked, but the black kitten turned sulky, and refused to do anything but back away from Dennis's hands with its ears flattened. "It's quite in a temper," she said. "Now the grey kitten _always_ tries to do what you tell it." "Only it's so stupid that it never knows what you want it to do," said Dennis, as he gave up his efforts and let the kitten scamper back to its mother. "Well, at any rate," said Maisie, returning to her subject, "we've got to find it a home, and we haven't asked every one yet. Who is there left? Let me see. There's the vicarage, and Dr Price, and, oh Dennis, perhaps old Sally would like it!"