Kitty's Enemy by Eleanora H. Stooke
Kitty and Bob Glanville, siblings and enthusiastic gardeners, live in a small provincial town. During their Easter holidays, they notice a new boy, Tim Shuttleworth, at their neighbor Mr. Shuttleworth's house. Tim, visiting his uncle, is lonely and tries to befriend Kitty and Bob by watching them over the garden wall. Initially, the siblings find him intrusive and odd-looking, with his red hair and freckled face. Tim, eager for companionship, attempts to connect with them but is rebuffed. He decides to create his own garden, but it is ruined by Snip, the Glanvilles' dog. In anger, Tim accuses Kitty and Bob of sending Snip to destroy his garden. Later, in a fit of revenge, Tim accidentally kills Kitty's pet rabbit by overturning its hutch, not realizing it contained a living creature. Wracked with guilt, Tim secretly replaces the rabbit with a new one from a local shop, hoping to make amends without revealing his identity. Kitty and Bob mistakenly believe the rabbit is a gift from Bob's friend, Tom Hatch. Tim struggles with his conscience, especially when Kitty expresses gratitude to Tom and unknowingly praises Tim's honesty. As time passes, Tim becomes friends with the Glanvilles, especially after saving their dog, Snip, from drowning. Despite his initial deception, Tim's genuine remorse and subsequent actions endear him to the family. Eventually, Tim confesses his earlier misdeeds to his uncle, who helps him come clean to the Glanvilles. They forgive him, recognizing his sincerity and the lesson he has learned about honesty and friendship. Tim's relationship with the Glanvilles strengthens, and he becomes a regular part of their lives. His uncle decides to send him to the local grammar school, allowing him to stay in the town and maintain his newfound friendships. The story concludes with Tim being fully accepted by the Glanvilles, no longer an enemy but a cherished friend.
By Eleanora H. Stooke · First published 1908 · Genre: Domestic Fiction, Romance, Social Satire · 14 chapters · 34,594 words
First lines
"KITTY, fetch the rake from the tool-house, will you?"
"All right," responded Kitty; and dropping the fork with which she had been at work moving up the earth in her garden-plot, she hastened to do her brother's bidding.
What this Textopian page supports
Kitty's Enemy is listed on Textopian as a novella by Eleanora H. Stooke, dated 1908 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: Eleanora H. Stooke
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Domestic Fiction, Romance, Social Satire, Mystery, Humor
- Length: 34,594 words
- Structure: 14 chapters, 657 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Kitty's Enemy by Eleanora H. Stooke
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Genres
- Domestic Fiction — The narrative focuses on interpersonal and family dynamics central to a domestic environment.
- Romance — Emotional relationships and conflicts play a significant role in the storyline.
- Social Satire — The work critiques societal norms and conventions through its character interactions.
- Mystery — Subtle undercurrents of secrets and hidden motives infuse an element of suspense.
Tags
feline · conflict · rivalry · adventure · drama · animal perspective · character study · intrigue · loyalty · betrayal · courage · resilience
Contents
- That Dreadful Boy
- Tim's Revenge
- Kitty Interviews Tim
- Making Amends
- A Spoilt Plan
- Concerning the Covered Basket
- Kitty's Accident
- Kitty is Mystified
- General Bewilderment
- Snip Intrudes
- Kitty Asks Forgiveness of Tim
- Tim Entertains
- A Regular Brick
- Conclusion