human
Mary Rose!
gpt
Isn't he a beauty? Mary Rose turned shining eyes to her as she patted her pet.
human
I've had him ever since he was a weeny kitten. Mrs. Campbell gave him to me when I had the tonsilitis. We adore each other. You see his mother is dead and so is mine. We're both orphans.
gpt
I've a dog, too, but I left him in Mifflin.
human
Thank God for that,
gpt
His name is Solomon, went on Mary Rose.
human
He was such a wise little puppy that daddy said he should have a wise name. The superintendent of schools made out a list for me and I copied each one on a separate piece of paper and let the puppy take his choice. He took Solomon and daddy said he showed his sense for Solomon was the very wisest of all. But that shows just how smart Solomon was even as a puppy. Jimmie Bronson's taking care of him until I send for him. He said he'd just as soon I never sent, but of course I will as soon as I can. Do you see Jenny Lind, George Washington? She took the cat's head in her hands and turned it to the cage in which Jenny Lind hopped restlessly.
gpt
They aren't the friends I'd like them to be, she explained almost apologetically to her aunt.
human
Sometimes it worries me. Dear me, I wish I could have a talk with Noah! Don't you often wonder how he managed in the ark? It must have been hard with cats and mice and snakes and birds and lions and people. Daddy thought Noah must have been a fine animal tamer, like the one in the circus Gladys Evans' father took us to, only better, of course. Don't you think you'll like George Washington?
gpt
He's a beautiful cat, gulped Mrs. Donovan, who was more puzzled than Mary Rose. What should she do? What could she do? She took both Mary Rose and George Washington in her arms.
human
Listen to me, Mary Rose, for a minute. You know your Uncle Larry is janitor of this building?
gpt
It's a fine building, admiringly.
human
He must be awful rich.
gpt
He isn't rich at all, hurriedly.
human
If he was he wouldn't be a janitor. A janitor is the man who takes care of it----
gpt
Oh, Mary Rose was frankly disappointed.
human
I thought he owned it.
gpt
You see other folks live here, lots of them, an' the man who owns it won't let them have any cats or dogs, she hesitated, she hated to say it,
human
Won't have any cats or dogs or children! Mary Rose's voice was shrill with astonishment and her eyes were as big as saucers.
gpt
Why, everybody has children! They always have had. Don't you remember, even Adam and Eve? In Mifflin everyone has children.
human
It's different in Waloo. You see the man who owns this house thinks childern are noisy an' destructive. She tried her best to find an excuse for the unknown owner.
gpt
He doesn't know, of course. He's probably a cross old bachelor.
human
But I'm a child, wailed Mary Rose suddenly.
gpt
Wha-what are you going to do with me?
human
You're not a child, Mary Rose. You're a great big girl goin' on fourteen. Don't ever forget that. If anyone asks you how old you are you just tell 'em you're goin' on fourteen. That's what you are, you know.
gpt
Yes, doubtfully.
human
But I have to go to eleven first and then to twelve and thirteen----
gpt
Waloo folks don't care about that, her aunt interrupted quickly.
human
They don't care to hear about any but the fourteen. Don't you ever forget.
gpt
I won't, promised Mary Rose solemnly, too puzzled just then to think it out.
human
But what about George Washington? He's just a cat. She looked dubiously at George Washington and shook her head. Nothing could be made of him but a cat.
gpt
An orphan cat!
human
I know, dearie. Aunt Kate's arms tightened around her.
gpt
An' I hate to ask you to give him up. I know you love him but if you keep him here it may mean that your uncle will lose his job an' if he did that there wouldn't be any roof over our heads nor bread for our stomachs.
human
Oh! Mary Rose stared at her.
gpt
Would that cross old bachelor owner make him not be janitor?
human
We'll have to find someone to take care of him--just for a while, she added quickly as she saw two big tears in Mary Rose's blue eyes.
gpt
Some day, please God, we'll have a home where we can have him with us.