Once it happened that Charlie was left in charge of a neighbour, as
she was young and we had to go from home; and in the neighbour's house
a dog bit her. When next she saw my wife she flung her arms round my
wife's neck, and clung to her with sobs and moans, and all the
gestures natural to her sex in affliction, and ever afterwards she
seemed to feel that dogs were hostile.
I recollect that once our house was filled with visitors, some local
tin-god and official attendants, and one of the aforesaid attendants
had a bright little terrier at his heels. Poor dog, his master could
not silence the irreverent barkings that interrupted even the divinity
his master was attending. Cuffs and kicks were useless. Charlie, up
aloft, had fixed the terrier with her glittering eye, and
"Oo-oo-oo-ed" at him till he was frantic. When he was thrashed into a
moment's silence, and she saw she was observed, she nimbly scuttled
away among the upper carpentry, only to reappear in a few seconds
elsewhere, and catch the dog's eye again, and "Oo-oo-oo" at him
afresh; and then the barking recommenced, and the inevitable beating
and yelping, which she seemed to enjoy immensely.