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“Ilikethat；tellmeabouttheothers。Whatdothesedo？“askedDemi，takingupanewbranch。
“Feedsilk-worms；theyliveonmulberryleaves，tilltheybegintospinthemselvesup。Iwasinasilk-factoryonce，andtherewereroomsfullofshelvesallcoveredwithleaves，andwormseatingthemsofastthatitmadearustle。Sometimestheyeatsomuchtheydie。TellthattoStuffy，“
andDanlaughed，ashetookupanotherbitofrockwithalichenonit。
“Iknowonethingaboutthismulleinleaf：thefairiesusethemforblankets，“saidDemi，whohadnotquitegivenuphisfaithintheexistenceofthelittlefolkingreen。
“IfIhadamicroscope，I’dshowyousomethingprettierthanfairies，“
saidDan，wonderingifheshouldeverownthatcovetedtreasure。“Iknewanoldwomanwhousedmulleinleavesforanight-capbecauseshehadface-ache。
Shesewedthemtogether，andworeitallthetime。“
“Howfunny!wassheyourgrandmother？“
“Neverhadany。Shewasaqueeroldwoman，andlivedaloneinalittletumble-downhousewithnineteencats。Folkscalledherawitch，butshewasn’t，thoughshelookedlikeanoldrag-bag。ShewasrealkindtomewhenIlivedinthatplace，andusedtoletmegetwarmatherfirewhenthefolksatthepoorhousewerehardonme。“
“Didyouliveinapoorhouse？“
“Alittlewhile。Nevermindthat；Ididn’tmeantospeakofit；“
andDanstoppedshortinhisunusualfitofcommunicativeness。
“Tellaboutthecats，please，“saidDemi，feelingthathehadaskedanunpleasantquestion，andsorryforit。
“Nothingtotell；onlyshehadalotof’em，andkept’eminabarrelnights；andIusedtogoandtipoverthebarrelsometimes，andlet’emoutalloverthehouse，andthenshe’dscold，andchase’emandput’eminagain，spittingandyowlinglikefury。“
“Wasshegoodtothem？“askedDemi，withaheartychild’slaugh，pleasanttohear。
“Guessshewas。Pooroldsoul!shetookinallthelostandsickcatsinthetown；andwhenanybodywantedonetheywenttoMarmWebber，andshelet’empickanykindandcolortheywanted，andonlyaskedninepence，；shewasgladtohaveherpussiesgetagoodhome。“
“IshouldliketoseeMarmWebber。CouldI，ifIwenttothatplace？“
“She’sdead。Allmyfolksare，“saidDan，briefly。
“I’msorry；“andDemisatsilentaminute，wonderingwhatsubjectwouldbesafetotrynext。Hefeltdelicateaboutspeakingofthedepartedlady，butwasverycuriousaboutthecats，andcouldnotresistaskingsoftly；
“Didshecurethesickones？“
“Sometimes。Onehadabrokenleg，andshetiedituptoastick，anditgotwell；andanotherhadfits，andshedoctoreditwithyarbstillitwascured。Butsomeof’emdied，andsheburied’em；andwhentheycouldn’tgetwell，shekilled’emeasy。“
“How？“askedDemi，feelingthattherewasapeculiarcharmaboutthisoldwoman，andsomesortofjokeaboutthecats，becauseDanwassmilingtohimself。
“Akindlady，whowasfondofcats，toldherhow，andgavehersomestuff，andsentallherownpussiestobekilledthatway。Marmusedtoputaspongewetwithether，inthebottomofanoldboot，thenpokepussinheaddownwards。Theetherputhertosleepinajiffy，andshewasdrownedinwarmwaterbeforeshewokeup。“
“Ihopethecatsdidn’tfeelit。IshalltellDaisyaboutthat。Youhaveknownagreatmanyinterestingthings，haven’tyou？“askedDemi，andfelltomeditatingonthevastexperienceofaboywhohadrunawaymorethanonce，andtakencareofhimselfinabigcity。
“WishIhadn’tsometimes。“
“Why？Don’trememberingthemfeelgood？“
“No。“
“It’sverysingularhowharditistomanageyourmind，“saidDemi，claspinghishandsroundhisknees，andlookingupattheskyasifforinformationuponhisfavoritetopic。
“Devilishhard；no，Idon’tmeanthat；“andDanbithislips，fortheforbiddenwordslippedoutinspiteofhim，andhewantedtobemorecarefulwithDemithanwitha
