human
Well, young ladies, said Mrs. Corner,
gpt
I am glad to see you. So this is Jean. She looks more like the Lees than Nancy and Jack. What have you there, my dears?
human
We have brought you a kitten, spoke up Jack.
gpt
We brought two so you could take your choice, for it is really very hard to tell which of them all is the prettiest. We let Phil take his choice first and we left the ugliest for Mitty, though that one is really very pretty, but not quite so lovely as these.
human
It is very kind of you to want me to have the best, said Mrs. Corner.
gpt
Which do you consider the prettier?
human
I like this one,
gpt
And I like this, said Jean, more discreetly holding her kitten in her lap.
human
It has white feet and a white shirt front. Jack's is all gray. Mine is named Rubaiyat; we call it Ruby.
gpt
And mine, said Jack gravely,
human
What extraordinary names!
gpt
Ruby is named after the 'Rubaiyat of a Persian Kitten,' for Lady Gray is a Persian, you know. Ran named them and he said we could call Jean's, Ruby, and mine Baz. He says that Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz just suits a cat for he found out what it means and it means 'the spoil hastens; the prey speeds.'
human
Helen, did you ever know such droll children?
gpt
Would you like to look at them closer? said Jack.
human
Their claws are very briery like blackberry bushes, but they really don't scratch unless you don't know how to hold them. I'll put them in your lap and you can see how sweet and dear they are.
gpt
They certainly are beauties, said Mrs. Corner, admiringly.
human
Don't you think we would enjoy having one, Helen?
gpt
Most decidedly, said Miss Helen,
human
I just knew you'd say that.
gpt
Would you rather keep this one, then?
human
Oh, yes,
gpt
Oh, no,
human
Then suppose you don't give either away,
gpt
We can't keep but one, you know. Aunt Sarah said so, Jean told them.
human
And we'd rather you'd have one than anybody.
gpt
Then we'll take the gray one gladly and are very much obliged to you for thinking of bringing us such a beautiful and valuable pet, Mrs. Corner told them.
human
Haven't we some cake or something for these little girls, Helen?