Patty went with her uncle to what he called the tank-room, and there Mr. Barlow discovered that the leak was in a supply pipe which could easily be shut off. This he did, and the downpour was immediately stopped, although no water could be drawn through the house until the plumbers should come and repair the pipes. "Ted," said Mrs. Barlow, as her husband and Patty returned, "I don't believe Hopalong will be home in time to cook dinner, so suppose we have a pick-up supper? It's getting late, and Patty must be nearly starved after her journey from Boston." "All right," said Uncle Ted, cheerily; "is there anything in the house to eat? Where's Bumble?" "Go and hunt her up, please, and tell her I want her. And did you get the cheese and fruit as I asked you to?" "Yes, I bought out the whole market and carried it all home with me." "Very well, then we won't starve. Now wheel me into the dining-room and I'll see what we have on hand." Just then Bob and Bumble appeared, each carrying two kittens, and these four sprawling bits of animal life were deposited in Mrs. Barlow's lap, while Patty was called upon to admire them. "They are very cunning," said she, stroking them rather gingerly, for they seemed very small and frail. "Oh, you can't hurt them," said Bob; "see, pick 'em up this way," and he grasped one by the back of its neck and held it sprawling in the air. "No, hold one this way," said Bumble, cuddling a little ball of fur in the palm of her hand. "But, mumsey, I'm awful hungry; aren't we going to have any dinner? Where's Hopalong?" "She's gone on the excursion, my dear. Poor thing, she works so hard I'm glad for her to have a little outing." "H'm, she gets one about twice a week," said Bob; "Hopalong's the cook, Patty. We call her that 'cause she isn't very lively, and she just shuffles about. But she's a good-natured old thing, and such a good cook--" "Here, children, take this flock of cats," said Mrs. Barlow, "and we'll soon have something to eat, cook or no cook." Bumble gathered up the kittens, beginning with the white one. "This is the idiot," she said, "but isn't it a pretty cat? You can see she's half-witted, 'cause only one eye is open, and she has such a general air of stupidity." "She might turn out to be the smartest of the lot," said Patty. "I wish I could keep her and see, but dad says they must all be drowned to-morrow. I neglected the last kitten I had, and didn't feed her regularly, so the poor thing died. Daddy, if you'll let me keep this one, I'll never, _never_ forget to feed her--honest I won't. Please let me keep just this one," and Bumble rubbed the furry ball on her father's cheek. "Well, take them away now, and we'll see about it," said her father, and Bumble danced off with the kittens feeling almost sure that she had gained her point. Then Bob and his father moved Mrs. Barlow with her chair and footstool out to the dining-room.