“I am glad of that,” said Emilie, “it will be such a pleasure to Miss Edith to give pleasure to them all—­but come, Jenny, you have not fixed yet what you will have.”  Jenny said she did not want to be paid, but she had thought, perhaps Miss Parker might give them something, and if Miss Parker did not think it too much, she should like a shilling better than any thing.

Every one looked inquiringly, except Sarah.  Sarah was but the uneducated daughter of a poor fisherman, but she studied human nature as it lay before her in the different characters of her brothers and sisters, and she guessed the workings of Jenny’s mind.

“What do you want a shilling for?” said the mother sharply, who had joined the group.  “You ought not to have asked for anything, what bad manners you have!  The weeds cost you nothing, and you ought to be much obliged to Miss Parker for accepting them.”

“I wanted the shilling very much,” persisted Jenny, as Edith pressed it into her hand, and off she ran, as though to hide her treasure.

But Edith had caught sight of something, and forgot shilling and every thing else in that glimpse.  Her own dear old Muff sleeping on the hearth of the kitchen which she had not yet entered.  I shall not tell you all the endearments she used to puss, they would look ridiculous on paper; they made even those who heard them smile, but she was so overjoyed that there was some excuse for her.  Mrs. Murray rather damped her joy at once by saying, “Oh, she’s a sad thief, Miss.  She steals the fish terribly.  I suppose you can’t take her back, Miss?”

“Ah, Joe,” said Edith sorrowfully, “you see, you had better have drowned her.”

“So I think,” said Mrs. Murray.

“No, no, no,” cried Jane, coming forwards.  “I have a shilling now, and Barker the carrier will take her for that all the way to Southampton, where aunt Martha lives, and aunt Martha loves cats, and will take care of Muff; she shan’t be drowned, Miss,” said Jenny, kindly.

The mother looked surprised, and they all admired Jenny’s kind intentions.  Emilie slipped another shilling into her hand as they went away, and said “You will find a use for it.”  “Good night Jenny, and thank you,” said poor Edith, with a sigh, for she had already looked forward to many joyful meetings with Muff—­her newly-found treasure.  But as old Joe, who followed them down the cliff said, there was no end to the trouble Muff caused, what with stealing fish, and upsettings and breakings; and she would be happier at aunt Martha’s, where there was neither fish nor child, and more room to walk about in than Muff enjoyed here.

“But how kind of Jenny,” said Edith, “how thoughtful for Muff!”