An old negro "mammy," in a snowy kerchief and apron, appeared suddenly around the corner near which we stood, and made a grab at the child's shoulder. "You jes let 'im alont, honey, en he ain' gwine hu't you," she said. "He won't hurt me anyway," replied the little girl, as if I were a suspicious strange dog, "I'm not afraid of him." Then she made a step forward and held the whining grey kitten toward me. "Don't you want a cat, boy?" she asked, in a coaxing tone. My hands flew to my back, and the only reason I did not retreat before her determined advance was that I could hardly retreat into a brick wall. "I've just found it in the alley a minute ago," she explained. "It's very little. I'd like to keep it, only I've got six already." "I don't like cats," I replied stubbornly, shaking my head. "I saw Peter Finn's dog kill one. He shook it by the neck till it was dead. I'm goin' to train my dog to kill 'em, too." Raising herself on the toes of her red shoes, she bent upon me a look so scorching that it might have burned a passage straight through me into the bricks. "I knew you were a horrid bad boy. You looked it!" she cried. At this I saw in my imagination the closed gate of the enchanted garden, and my budding sportsman's proclivities withered in the white blaze of her wrath. "I don't reckon I'll train him to catch 'em by the back of thar necks," I hastened to add. At this she turned toward me again, her whole vivid little face with its red mouth and arched black eyebrows inspired by a solemn purpose. "If you'll promise never, never to kill a cat, I'll let you come into the garden--for a minute," she said. I hesitated for an instant, dazzled by the prospect and yet bargaining for better terms. "Will you let me walk under the arbours and down all the box-bordered paths?" She nodded. "Just once," she responded gravely. "An' may I play under the trees on the terrace where you built yo' houses of moss and stones?" "For a little while. But I can't play with you because--because you don't look clean." My heart sank like lead to my waist line, and I looked down ashamed at my dirty hands. "I--I'd rather play with you," I faltered. "Fur de Lawd's sake, honey, come in en let dat ar gutter limb alont," exclaimed the old negress, wagging her turbaned head. "Well, I'll tell you what I'll do," said her charge, after a deep moment; "I'll let you play with me for a little while if you'll take the cat." "But I ain't got any use for it," I stammered. "Take it home for a pet. Grandmama won't let any more come on the place. She's very cruel is grandmama, isn't she, mammy?" "Go way, chile, dar ain' nobody dat 'ould want all dem ar critters," rejoined the old negress. "_I_ do," said the little girl, and sighed softly. "I'll take it home with me," I began desperately at last, "if you'll let me play with you the whole evening." "And take you into the house?" "An' take me into the house," I repeated doggedly.