While Tot was being thus entertained, Dot was led by Uncle Palladius to number 9, where he lived. Uncle Palladius was a great black pussy, and was one of those who wore spectacles, giving him a comical appearance. Dot had harder work than Tot to climb through the square doorway of the house, but she succeeded after a struggle and was pleased with the cozy appearance of the room. Uncle Palladius was the head of a large family, and as strangers were rare in their Valley they all gathered around the girl and looked at her curiously, while one pure white kitten came softly up and rubbed its back against Dot's leg. She stooped down, and picking up the pretty kitten snuggled it close in her arms and gently caressed it. Then she sat down upon a cushion, while the other kittens gathered around her or stretched themselves lazily upon the carpet near by. All this delighted the girl, for she was especially fond of pussycats, although her invalid mother did not like them and had always declared she "would not have a cat in the house." So the child had often longed in vain for a pet of this kind, and was now very happy to be able to play with so many. She leaned down and pressed her cheek against the white kitten, while she whispered: "You sweet little darling!" "I've got a new ribbon," said the kitten, proudly. "So I see," replied Dot, who had noticed this. Then she asked: "How old are you, dear?" "It's pink," said the white kitty. "What is pink?" enquired the child. "My ribbon." "Oh, yes. But tell me," she added "is Uncle Palladius your father, or your grandfather?" "It's got a bow-knot on it," purred the kitten softly, with half closed eyes. "What has a bow-knot on it?" asked Dot. "My ribbon." "Yes, dear; but we'll talk of something else," said the girl. "Are all these other kitties your sisters and brothers?" "Mamma gave it to me," sang the white kitten, contentedly. "Gave you what, dear?" "My ribbon." "Don't mind her," said another of the pussys, in a rather contemptuous voice; "it's her first ribbon, and she's so vain she can think of nothing else. Put her down and take one of us; we can talk to you in a sensible way." "Well, let us talk, then," said the child, but she still held the vain kitten cuddled in her arms--it was so soft and pretty, she thought. "Tell me about Uncle Palladius." "He is our grandfather," said one that had white fur with big black spots scattered over it, and which, moreover, presented a curious appearance, because one eye was surrounded by a black spot and the other by pure white fur. "Uncle Palladius is very old and wise, and is uncle to half the pussys in our Valley. Our mother, who is named Snowball, lives with him, as he has at present no family of his own."