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 if she had, for she was very fond of the barn-cat and approved highly of the way she brought up her family. So Posy carried out the kittens, followed closely by the house-cat.

Posy put the kittens on the ground beside the little tiger-kittens, and then went back to her seat on the door-step beside Tom to watch them play.

The little tiger-kittens stood still a minute and watched the new-comers curiously. Then they flew at each other, and clawed each other, and rolled over together. The barn-cat looked on, very proud of her children's strength; but the house-cat had a very scornful expression on her countenance, as she scowled at the little tiger-kittens.

"Come back at once!" she called to her little Maltese kittens. "I don't wish you to associate with those common barn-kittens."