It would look well in plaster . May I ? '' asked Ralph . `` Thank you , I should like that very much . Take the real one as a model -- please do ; there are more coming , and this will brighten up your room for a day or two . '' As she spoke , Merry cut the stem , and , adding two or three of the great green leaves , put the handsome flower in his hand with so much good-will that he felt as if he had received a very precious gift . Then he said good-night so gratefully that Merry 's hand quite tingled with the grasp of his , and went away , often looking backward through the darkness to where the light burned brightly on the hill-top -- the beacon kindled by an unconscious Hero for a young Leander swimming gallantly against wind and tide toward the goal of his ambition . Chapter XVII . Down at Molly 's `` Now , my dears , I 've something very curious to tell you , so listen quietly and then I 'll give you your dinners , '' said Molly , addressing the nine cats who came trooping after her as she went into the shed-chamber with a bowl of milk and a plate of scraps in her hands . She had taught them to behave well at meals , so , though their eyes glared and their tails quivered with impatience , they obeyed ; and when she put the food on a high shelf and retired to the big basket , the four old cats sat demurely down before her , while the five kits scrambled after her and tumbled into her lap , as if hoping to hasten the desired feast by their innocent gambols . Granny , Tobias , Mortification , and Molasses were the elders . Granny , a gray old puss , was the mother and grandmother of all the rest . Tobias was her eldest son , and Mortification his brother , so named because he had lost his tail , which affliction depressed his spirits and cast a blight over his young life . Molasses was a yellow cat , the mamma of four of the kits , the fifth being Granny 's latest darling . Toddlekins , the little aunt , was the image of her mother , and very sedate even at that early age ; Miss Muffet , so called from her dread of spiders , was a timid black and white kit ; Beauty , a pretty Maltese , with a serene little face and pink nose ; Ragbag , a funny thing , every color that a cat could be ; and Scamp , who well deserved his name , for he was the plague of Miss Bat 's life , and Molly 's especial pet . He was now perched on her shoulder , and , as she talked , kept peeping into her face or biting her ear in the most impertinent way , while the others sprawled in her lap or promenaded round the basket rim . `` My friends , something very remarkable has happened : Miss Bat is cleaning house ! '' and , having made this announcement , Molly leaned back to see how the cats received it , for she insisted that they understood all she said to them . Tobias stared , Mortification lay down as if it was too much for him , Molasses beat her tail on the floor as if whipping a dusty carpet , and Granny began to purr approvingly . The giddy kits paid no attention , as they did not know what house-cleaning meant , happy little dears !
`` I thought you 'd like it , Granny , for you are a decent cat , and know what is proper , '' continued Molly , leaning down to stroke the old XXXXX , who blinked affectionately at her .
Bat Granny Molly Toddlekins day gambols hill-top puss shed-chamber spiders