A teacher stood at the head of each table, and beside Miss Rose was the little stranger. Mrs. Snow was the housemother. She asked the blessing, while every little girl bowed her head. Clematis stared about at the other children all this time, and wondered what they were doing. Now they were seated, and each girl buttoned her bib in place before she tasted her supper. Sally sat next to Clematis. "They gave you a bath, didn't they?" she said, as she put her bread into her bowl. Clematis nodded. "And you got a nice clean apron like ours, didn't you?" Clematis nodded again. "Oh, see her hair, it's lovely!" sighed a little girl across the table, who had short, straight hair. Clematis' soft brown curls were neatly brushed, and tied with a dark red ribbon. She did not look much like the child who came in an hour before. "What's her name?" asked Jane, looking at Miss Rose. "We'll ask her tomorrow. Now stop talking please, so she can eat her supper." At that, the little girl looked up at Miss Rose and said: "My name is Clematis, and my kitty's name is Deborah." Just as she said this, a very strange noise was heard. Every child stopped eating. Miss Rose turned red, and Mrs. Snow looked up in surprise. "Miew, miew, miew," came from under the table. In another minute a little head peeped over the edge of the table where Clematis sat. It was a kitten, with a black spot over one eye. "Miew, miew," Deborah continued, and stuck her little red tongue right into the yellow bowl. She was very hungry, and could wait no longer. [Illustration: Deborah was very hungry] Mrs. Snow rapped on the table, for every child laughed right out. What fun it was! No one had ever seen a cat in there before. "Miss Rose, will you kindly put that cat out. Put her out the front door." Mrs. Snow was very stern. She didn't wish any cats in the Home. Clematis looked at Mrs. Snow. Her eyes filled with tears, and she began to sob. Miss Rose turned as red as Deborah's tongue. She had not asked Mrs. Snow if she might let the cat in. She thought it would stay in the kitchen with Katie. "Did you hear me, Miss Rose? I wish you would please put the cat out the door. We can't have it here." Miss Rose started to get up, when Clematis slipped out of her chair, hugging Deborah tightly to her breast. The tears were running down her cheeks, as she started for the door. "Where are you going, little girl?" said Mrs. Snow. Clematis did not answer, but kept right on. "Stop her, Miss Rose. What is the matter, anyway? Dear me, what a fuss!" Miss Rose caught Clematis by the arm. "Wait, dear," she said. "Don't act like that. Answer Mrs. Snow." "I don't care," sobbed Clematis, looking back. "I don't want to stay here if you are going to throw my cat away." "I should have asked you, Mrs. Snow," said Miss Rose. "She had the kitten with her. She cried to bring it in, and Katie said she would care for it in the kitchen."