on the table in the kitchen of the farmhouse was a leg of mutton. farmer green had left it there and gone away. and mrs. green had stepped out of the kitchen—nobody knew for how long.

at least old dog spot and miss kitty cat didn't know. they were left there in the kitchen alone—alone with the leg of mutton.

"ahem!" said miss kitty cat to old dog spot. "don't you think you'd better go and see what's become of farmer green?"

she was unusually pleasant, for her. as a rule she had little to say to spot, except to scold at him.

"i'm comfortable here, thank you," spot answered. "farmer green must be out of sight by this time. so i won't bother to chase after him."

"you could smell out his track, couldn't you?" miss kitty cat suggested.

"perhaps!" said spot. "perhaps! but as i said, i'm comfortable here. i'm going to stay right here in the kitchen." out of the corner of his eye he looked at miss kitty cat. he could see that she was somewhat displeased by something or other. her tail was beginning to swell slightly. and that was a sure sign that she was losing her temper. but when she spoke again her voice was as sweet as honey.

"what a beautiful day to go hunting!" she remarked as she sprang into a chair beside the window and looked out. "the woods must be full of birds."

"no doubt!" said spot dryly. "i went hunting early this morning; and there was plenty of game then."

"ha!" miss kitty exclaimed suddenly. "do i hear the cows in the cornfield?"

now, spot loved to drive the cows out of the corn. but for a wonder, he never even moved an ear.

"i hope the sheep haven't scrambled over the stone wall," miss kitty cat mewed. "if they have, farmer green would want you to get them back into the pasture for him."

"yes!" said spot with a yawn. "i'm sure he would. and if he needs me he knows where he can find me."

miss kitty cat's tail was growing bigger every moment. and the fur on her back was beginning to stand on end. still she managed to speak in her very softest voice.

"did you know—" she inquired—"did you know that johnnie green had gone swimming in the mill pond?"

"no!" said spot. "has he? i hope he'll have a good time. i had a fine swim yesterday in black creek. and i almost caught a muskrat there."

as he spoke he rose and walked across the big, square kitchen and stretched himself out on the floor right in front of the table where the leg of mutton lay.

at that miss kitty cat gave a terrible cry of rage.

"i know why you won't leave the kitchen!" she yowled. "you think i'm going to eat some of that mutton. and that's why you've lain down alongside it."