"Who are you going with to-morrow? That abomination wants you to go with him, and I've set my heart on having you go with me down town. You haven't been with me, since the dear knows when, and upon my word, I feel real bad." "I'll mend my dress now, go with Ralph in the morning, and you in the afternoon," smiled Kittie sweetly. "No you don't," cried Kat, sitting up. "I'd like to have you to myself for one day, at least. If he can get you from me so much in six weeks, by the end of summer you'll be beyond speaking to me." "Oh, Kat," cried Kittie reproachfully. "How can you?" "Well, will you go with me to-morrow?" "My dress--" "I'll darn your old dress right now. Will you?" "I don't believe you care half as much for me to go, as you do to spite Ralph," said Kittie thoughtfully, and to Kat's amazement she suddenly realized that this was so, not but what she really wanted Kittie, but the predominant desire was to spite Ralph, and she was bound to do it now, so she ran off for the dress, brought it back, and darned it immaculately, whereupon Kittie felt that the thing was settled. Kat was jubilant all the evening, and seized the first opportunity of announcing the change in the programme. Shortly after they came into the sitting-room, Ralph asked: "Is the dress darned, Kittie?" "Yes, it is, and I darned it, and Kittie's going down town with me to-morrow," answered Kat glibly. Ralph lifted his eye-brows with a smile, instantly detecting the little spite-work. "Why, did I speak to you?" "Believe not; I spoke to you." "Suppose you try the novelty of speaking when you're spoken to." "I generally do; also at any other time that I take a notion. I've done it all my life, and it'll take more than you to stop me." "Some people talk to hear themselves." "So I've heard, and I'm quite convinced that no one has a better right to come under that head than yourself." "Quite true; I'm amazed at your powers of penetration. Perhaps you also observed that I rank only a little ways below my illustrious cousin, Kathleen." "I'm not your cousin, thank goodness." "Don't thank anything with which you have so little acquaintance; it's apt to never be appreciated." "No acquaintance that I have with anything, or any body troubles me as much as the acquaintance that I have with you." "You have my sympathy, for I'm troubled with the same feeling." "Do hush," exclaimed Kittie. "It's perfectly awful the way you two do talk. Ralph, come play chess. Kat, I'm astonished." "I don't wonder; so am I; but I never had such an object to deal with before, so no wonder I do some unusual things," cried Kat, and bounced out of the room to hide the tears that would come; for Kittie's voice was reproof, and she took Ralph's part, and that was altogether too much! CHAPTER XIV. STUDY OR PLAY?