Four of the kittens lapped the milk somewhat feebly, but they lapped.

The fifth would not lap.

It only mewed.

Therefore the Terror took only four of the kittens, giving Polly a shilling for them.

The fifth he returned to her, bidding her bring it back when it could lap.
They took the four kittens down to the cats' home; and since they were so small, they put them in one hutch for warmth, with a saucer of milk to satisfy their hunger during the night.
"Now we've got these kittens, we needn't bother about getting cats," said the Terror as they returned to the house.