I caught, and swallowed it at one gulp.

"Good boy. Now that is enough; and I have something to say to you. You

are going out shooting with Craven. He is not his brother, but that

cannot be helped. I hope he will be good-natured to you, but I am not

sure. Now mind that _you_ behave well, and set him a good example. Do

your own work as well as you can, and don't growl and grumble at other

people. And if you are angry, you must not bark, nor bite him, but take

it patiently."

What more she might have added I do not know, for her harangue was

interrupted by old John the groom, who was, like myself, waiting for the

gentleman in question. John's wife had been Lily's nurse, and he himself

taught her to ride and helped her to garden, and had a sort of

partnership with me in taking care of her; so that there was a great

friendship between us all three. He had been listening to our

conversation, and now observed, while he pointed towards the house with

a knowing jerk of his head, "There are those coming, Miss Lily, who need

your advice as much as the poor animal; and I guess it wouldn't be of

much more use."

The last words he said to himself, in an undertone, while Lily went

forward to meet Craven, who now appeared in full costume. He was so hung

about with extra shooting-pouches, belts, powder-flasks, and other

things dangling from him in all directions, that I wondered he could

move at all. Old John shook his head as he looked at him, and muttered,

"Great cry and little wool."

Lily began to explain her father's absence; but Craven did not listen

to what she said, he seemed intent upon making her admire his numerous

contrivances. Lily said he had plenty of tools, and that he would be

very clever if he did work to match, but that in her opinion such

variety was rather puzzling.

"Of course, girls know nothing of field-sports," he answered; "I can't

expect you to understand the merits of these things."

"Oh, no, to be sure," answered Lily, good-humouredly; "I dare say they

are all very clever; only papa sometimes tells _me_ that one wants but

few tools if one knows one's work; but perhaps he only means girls'

work. Very likely you are right about yours."

Old John now came forward very respectfully, but with a particular

twinkle in his eye which I understood. Said he, "As you are encumbered

with so many traps, master, maybe I had best take your gun. You can't

carry every thing useful and not useful."

Craven handed him the gun without any objection, and we set off. From

the moment that I saw him relinquish his gun, his real weapon, for the

sake of all those unnecessary adjuncts, I gave up any lingering hope of

him, and followed in very low spirits. Once in the fields, the prospect

of rejoining my master a little revived me; but even in this I was

disappointed: he had gone over the open country, while Craven preferred

remaining in the plantations. Still, old John's company was a comfort to

me, and when the first bird was descried, I made a capital set at it.

Craven took back his gun; but while he was looking in the wrong pocket

for the right shot, John brought down the partridge.

"A fine bird," said Craven. "If it had not been for this awkward button,

I should have had him."

"You'll soon have another opportunity," said John; "suppose you get

loaded first."

Craven loaded; but something else was wrong about his contrivances, and

before he was ready, John had bagged the pheasant. At last Craven got a

shot, and missed it. He said it was John's fault for standing in the way

of his seeing me.

"Well, I shan't be in the way any longer," said John; "for I was to go

back to my work if I was not wanted, after having shown you the

plantations. So good morning, master, and good luck next time."

The next time, and the next, and the next, no better success. Bird after

bird rose, and flew away before our noses, as if in sheer ridicule of

such idle popping, till I felt myself degraded in the eyes of the very

partridges. Half the morning we passed in this way, wasting time and

temper, powder and shot; and the birds, as I well knew, despising us for

missing them, till my patience was quite exhausted, and I longed to go

home. Still, I remembered Lily's parting injunctions, and resolved to be

game to the last myself, even if we were to have no other game that day.

I also reflected that no one was born with a gun in his hand, and that

Craven might not have had opportunity of acquiring dexterity; that there

was a beginning to everything, and that it was the business of the more

experienced to help the ignorant. So I continued to be as useful to him

as I possibly could.

Suddenly, after a particularly provoking miss, Craven exclaimed: "It is

all your fault, you stupid dog; you never turn the bird out where one

expects it. If you knew your business, I could have bagged dozens."

Highly affronted, I now felt that I had borne enough, and that it was

hopeless to attempt being of use to a creature as unjust and ungrateful

as he was ignorant and conceited. I, therefore, turned round, and in a

quiet but dignified and decided manner took my way towards home. Craven

called, whistled, shouted, but I took no notice. I was too much

disgusted to have anything more to do with him; and I never turned my

head nor slackened my pace till I arrived at my own kennel, when I

curled myself round in my straw, and brooded over my wrongs till I went

to sleep.

I kept rather out of sight during the rest of the day, for more reasons

than one. An inferior creature cannot at once rise superior to an

affront, and clear it off his mind like a man; we are slaves to our

impressions, and till they are forgotten we cannot help acting upon

them; and I am afraid I rather took pleasure in nursing my wrath. Then I

did not wish to see Craven; and perhaps I might feel a little ashamed of

myself, and not quite sure what my master and mistress might think of my

running away. But I happened to hear John chuckling over the affair, and

saying that my master had been very much amused with the story; so I

regained confidence enough next morning to present myself once more,

though in rather a shy way, to Lily at the foot of the stairs.

"Oh, come in to breakfast, you capital dog," exclaimed she; so I

followed her, delighted to find that I was in the same favour as ever.

But, alas! how little did I foresee the misfortune that was coming upon

me! I had better have stayed in my kennel and fancied the whole world

affronted with me for a few days longer.

Craven and I met on the rug, _my_ rug, as I considered it; for it was

one of my principal pleasures to sit on that rug with my feet on the

fender, warming my nose. I sometimes toasted myself all over, till my

coat was so hot that Lily squeaked when she touched me. She would have

barked, I suppose, if she had known how. Now Craven stood in my place,

with one of his hind paws on my fender. He looked scornfully at me, and

I returned his glance with one of equal contempt, though I longed to

snap at his shining heel, and teach him sense and manners.

But Lily, who never was angry with any body, did not perceive how much

we disliked each other, and exclaimed in her innocent way, "Craven, here

is Captain come to make friends with you, and to beg pardon for

deserting you yesterday. Shake a paw, Captain."

Shaking a paw with Craven was a thing I would not do; and my master, a

good sportsman himself, entered into my feelings.

"The dog was thoroughly provoked by your bad shooting, Craven," said he,

"and you will never make either him or me believe it was his fault. But

try again. There is no necessity for you to be a sportsman; but if you

choose to do a thing at all, you had better do it properly; and you may

learn as well as any body else, if you will not fancy yourself perfect.

We will all go out together to-day."

And so we all went out together on that fatal day. I did myself credit,

and my master did me justice, and I was happy in my ignorance of coming

events. Craven shot and missed, and shot and missed again; but my

master's laugh stopped him whenever he was beginning to lay the blame on

dog or gun.

"Bad workmen always find fault with their tools, Craven," said my

master. "Take better aim."

John tried to teach him, but he would listen to no advice.

It is seldom that a person's fault or folly injures himself alone, and,

alas for me! I was the victim of Craven's conceit and obstinacy. At his

next fire I felt a pang that I never can forget. His ill-directed shot

had entered my shoulder, and I sank down howling with agony. My

companions instantly surrounded me, uttering exclamations of alarm,

regret, and pity, Craven himself being the foremost and loudest. He

never should forgive himself, he said; it was all his awkwardness and

stupidity; he was never so sorry for any thing in his life.

He ran to a neighbouring cottage for a shutter, while my master and John

bound up the wound. They then placed me carefully on the shutter, and

carried me home, Craven reproaching himself and pitying me every time he

opened his lips. I scarcely knew him for the same person who had been

so conceited and supercilious half an hour before; and even my master,

who was extremely angry with him, grew softened by his penitence.

They carried me two at a time, in turn; and when Craven was walking by

my side, he stroked my head, saying, "Poor Captain, how I wish I could

do any thing to relieve you! if you could but understand how grieved and

ashamed I am, I think you would forgive me."

Though suffering greatly, I could not but be touched by his sorrow; and

when I heard the kind tones of his voice, and saw tears standing in his

eyes, my anger quite melted away, and I licked his hand to show that I

bore no malice.

My accident confined me to the kennel for a considerable time, but every

care and attention was paid me. My master and John doctored my wound,

and Lily brought me my food every day with her own hands. As long as

Craven remained in the house, he never failed to accompany her,

repeating his regret and good-will towards me; and after he had left us

I heard old John observe: "I always thought there was some good in

Master Craven; and his brother is as fine a fellow as ever lived, and

won't let it drop. The boy is quite changed now. Between Captain and

Miss Lily, I reckon he has had a lesson he'll not forget."

In due time I recovered, and was as strong and handsome as ever; but,

strange to say, I no longer felt like the same dog. My own sufferings

had suggested some serious reflections as to whether being shot might

not be as unpleasant to the birds as to me; and I really began quite to

pity them. So far the change was for the better; but it did not stop

there: not only was my love for field-sports extinguished, but it had

given place to a timidity which neither threats nor caresses could

overcome. I shuddered at the very sight of a gun, and no amount either

of reward or punishment could induce me again to brave its effects.

Under all other circumstances I was as courageous as before: I would

have attacked a wild beast, or defended the house against a robber,

without the slightest fear; but I could not stand fire; and the moment I

saw a gun pointed, there was no help for it, I fairly turned tail and

ran off.

"The poor beast is spoilt, sir," said John to my master. "It is cruel to

force him, and he'll never be good for any thing again."

"It is of no use taking him out," replied my master; "but he is far from

good for nothing. He has plenty of spirit still, and we must make a

house-dog of him."

So I was appointed house-dog. At first I certainly felt the change of

life very unpleasant; but I reflected that it was my own doing, though

not exactly my own fault; and I determined to make the best of it, and

adapt myself to my new employments. At the beginning of that summer, if

any body had told me that I should be content to stay in the court and

garden, sometimes even tethered to a tree on the lawn,--that my most

adventurous amusement would he a quiet walk over the grounds, and my

most exciting occupation the looking-out for suspicious characters,--I

should have sneered, perhaps even growled at the prediction; but so it

was, and before long I grew reconciled to my new station, and resolved

to gain more credit as a guard than even as a sporting dog.

We were not much troubled with thieves, for we lived in a quiet country

place, where we knew every body and every body knew us, and no one was

likely to wish us any harm; but it did once happen that my vigilance was

put to the proof.

There was a fair in our neighbourhood, attended by all the villages

near. During the morning I amused myself by watching the people in

their smart dresses passing our gate, laughing and talking merrily. I

had many acquaintances among them, who greeted me with good-natured

speeches, which I answered by polite wags of my tail.

John, and others of our servants, went to the fair, and seemed to enjoy

themselves as much as any body. They returned home before dark, and all

the respectable persons who had passed our gate in the morning re-passed

it at an early hour in the evening, looking as if they had spent a

pleasant day, but perfectly quiet and sober; and I was much pleased at

seeing them so well behaved.

But among the crowd of passengers in the morning, I had noticed several

men whose appearance I highly disapproved. Some of them scowled at me as

they passed, and I felt sure they were bent upon no good; but one, the

worst-looking of all, stopped, and whistled to me, holding out a piece

of meat. I need scarcely say that I indignantly rejected his bribe--for

such I knew it was--meant to entice me in some way or other to neglect

my duty; so I growled and snarled, and watched him well as he passed on.

No fear of my not knowing him again by sight or smell. Several of these

ill-looking men returned intoxicated, to my great disgust; for I had a

peculiar objection to persons in that condition, and never trusted a

man who could degrade himself below my own level. I watched them all,

every moment expecting the one who had tried to curry favour with me,

for I had an instinctive assurance that I had not seen the last of him.

Night drew on while I was still on the look-out, and yet he did not

appear. The rest of the family went calmly to bed, taking no notice of

my disquietude; but nothing could have induced _me_ to curl myself round

and shut my eyes. I was sure danger was near, and it was my part as a

faithful guardian to be prepared for it. So I alternately paced

cautiously round the court, or sat up in my kennel with my head out

listening for every sound. By degrees the returning parties of revellers

dwindled to now and then a solitary pedestrian; and the hum of voices

gradually subsided, till all was silent, and the whole country seemed

asleep. Still I watched on, with unabated vigilance, deep into the

night. At last I thought I heard outside the wall a very cautious

footstep, accompanied by an almost inaudible whisper. I pricked up my

ears; the footstep came nearer, and a hand was upon the lock of the

courtyard-gate. I sniffed the air; there was no mistake; I smelt the

very man whom I expected. Others might be with him, but there was _he_.

Without a moment's delay, I set up an alarum that might have wakened the

whole village; at any rate, it woke our whole house. Down stairs came my

master in his dressing-gown; down came old John, lantern in hand, and

red nightcap on head. Lily peeped out of her bedroom window, with a

shawl over her shoulders; and seeing her papa in the court, ran down to

help him,--as if she could have been any help against robbers, poor

little darling! The servants assembled in such strange attire, that they

looked to me like a herd of animals who had got into each other's coats

by mistake. But the maids had kept their own voices at any rate, for

they screamed almost as loud as I barked. It was a proud moment for me;

and the greater everybody's fright, and the more noise and confusion

they made, the prouder I was. It was all _my_ doing. It was _I_ who had

called them all in the middle of the night. Their confidence in me was

such, that at the sound of my voice they had all left their beds, and

assembled in the courtyard in their night-gowns. How clever and careful

they must think me! And how clever and careful I thought myself! I

danced round Lily, and bounded about in all directions, till I knocked

down the sleepy stable-boy, and got into every body's way. I never was

in such glee in my life. But my master and John were quiet enough, and

they examined the gate, and the footsteps outside, and decided that

there certainly had been an attempt to break into the house, but that

the robbers had been frightened away by me.

"It has been a narrow escape for them, sir," said John; "for if they had

succeeded in getting in, the dog would have pinned them."

"Captain has done his duty well," said my master, "and no one can call

him useless any more."

"It is a good thing no one was hurt," added Lily; "but I am glad they

were frightened. Perhaps the fright will cure them."

After this adventure I was treated with great respect. By night I

watched the house, and by day I was Lily's constant companion. We were

allowed to take long rambles together, as her father knew she was safe

under my care. I learnt to carry her basket or parasol for her, and to

sit faithfully guarding them while she scrambled up banks or through

bushes, looking for flowers. I was also an excellent swimmer, and could

fetch sticks which she had thrown to the very middle of the stream. I

could not make out why she wanted the sticks, as she never took them

home with her; but we were quite of one mind about fetching them out of

the water. Often I accompanied her to the village, and lay at the

cottage-doors while she paid visits to the people inside. Then the

little children used to gather round me, and pat me, and pull my ears;

and even if they pulled a little too hard, I scorned to complain, or

hurt them in return; and when Lily came out, I was rewarded by her

praise of me as the best and gentlest dog in the world.

At other times she used to establish herself to read or work under a

tree on the lawn, while I lay at her feet, or sat upright by her side. I

was careful not to interrupt her when she was busy, but she often left

off reading to speak to me, and sometimes let me keep my front paw in

hers as we sat together. These were happy days, and I should have liked

them to last for ever. But this state of tranquillity was to be

disturbed, and I am sorry to say by my own folly.

I had insensibly imbibed a notion, or rather a feeling, that I was

Lily's only pet and favourite, and that nothing else had a right to

attract her notice. Of course I allowed her to pay proper attention to

human beings; I knew that I could not come into competition with _them_,

and therefore I never was jealous of them; but a word or a look

bestowed upon an inferior animal appeared to me an affront which proper

self-respect required me to resent.

One day Lily appeared in the garden carrying a little white kitten in

her arms. I should have liked to have it to worry, and as Lily was very

good-natured, I thought she had brought it for that purpose; so I sat

watching ready to snap at it the moment she should toss it at me. After

a time, I began to think she ought not to tantalise me by keeping me

waiting so long, and I tried to show my impatience by various signs that

she could understand. But to my surprise she was not only insensible to

my hints, but took upon herself to reprove me, saying, "No, Captain,

that is not being a good dog; you must not want to hurt the poor little

kitten. Go farther off."

If ever I was affronted in my life it was then. I turned round, and

shaking my ears, sat down with my back to Lily and her disgusting

kitten, and absolutely refused even to look round when she spoke to me.

This was the beginning of a period in my life to which I always recur

with shame and regret. I continued in a state of unmitigated sulks. Even

Lily could not appease me. If she came to see me by herself, indeed, or

with only human beings in her train, I brightened up for the moment;

but if she appeared with the kitten in her arms, my surliness was

disgraceful. Nobody knows how I detested the kitten. I thought it a

misfortune to the universe that that kitten should exist.

On thinking it over at this distance of time, I honestly confess that I

had no right to be jealous; Lily remitted none of her kindness, and gave

me every proof of much higher regard and esteem than she bestowed on the

kitten. She fed me, patted me, took me out walking, and talked to me

just as usual; and as soon as she perceived my objection to her new pet,

she left off bringing it with her, and was careful to keep it out of my

sight. But I saw it in spite of all her pains. It was incessantly

intruding itself upon my notice, sometimes on the roof of the house,

sometimes jumping from a window-ledge; now perched upon a paling, now

climbing the pillars of the verandah; and always looking clean and white

and pretty, with a bit of blue ribbon which Lily had tied round its

neck, as if on purpose to provoke me. Even when I did not see it, I

heard it mew; and when I did not hear it, I thought about it.

I was miserable. To be sure I had no right to expect Lily to like nobody

but me, and I had nothing to complain of; every pleasure and comfort in

life was mine. Indeed, I think a real grievance would have been rather

pleasant to me. I should have liked an injustice. I was determined to

sulk, and should have been glad to have something to sulk at. But no;

people would persevere in being kind to me. I might be as ill-tempered

as I pleased; nobody punished, or even scolded me; and whenever I chose

to be in good humour, my friends were always ready to meet me half-way.

Indeed, I never was quite sure whether they noticed my ill-temper or

not. But I did not try to come round, though certainly sulking did not

conduce to my comfort. I once heard my master remark, in reference to

some disagreeable human being, that ill-tempered people made themselves

more unhappy than they made others; so I suppose sulking does not always

agree even with men; I know it does not with dogs. It was a wretched

time.

I continued to brood over my imaginary grievances, little thinking how

soon they would be exchanged for real troubles. I had been discontented

while every enjoyment was at my command, and now I was to wish in vain

for the happiness I had neglected. And yet, in the point which I

considered most important, I had my own way. I one day thought that if

I were never again to see Lily caressing that kitten, I should be quite

happy. I never again saw Lily caressing the kitten, and from that day my

real sorrows began.

There was a bustle in the house. Every thing seemed in confusion. Every

body was doing something different from usual. Furniture and trunks were

carried up and down stairs. My master's study was full of great chests;

and he and Lily, instead of reading the books, spent all their time in

hiding them in these chests. Next, my friend John came and nailed covers

on the chests. After the first was nailed down, I jumped upon it, and

sat watching John while he hammered the others; switching my tail, and

winking my eyes at every stroke of his hammer, rather surprised at all

that went on, but yet liking the bustle.

"Ah, poor old boy," said John, "I wonder how you'll take it."

"Take what?" thought I, and wondered too.

One day, John and another man went out with the horses, each riding on

one and leading another. Thinking they were going to exercise them, I

followed as I often did; but when we came to the end of the village John

ordered me home, saying, "Good bye, Captain. Don't forget us, old

fellow." I returned according to his command, but felt very much

puzzled, as John had never before sent me home.

On arriving at the house, a waggon was standing at the door, piled up to

a great height with chests and packages; and on the top of all was

perched an ugly cur, barking as if he considered himself the master of

everything. I was willing to make a civil acquaintance with him, but the

little mongrel had the audacity to bark at _me_,--me in my own

dominions! I did not think he was worth touching, besides which, I could

not get at him; but I growled fiercely; and his master, who was loading

the waggon, desired me to "get out of the way."

Thus rejected on all sides, I betook myself to the court, and rolled

myself round in the straw of my own kennel, where nobody could affront

me. There I remained till I heard Lily's sweet voice at a distance

calling, "Captain, Captain!" I bounded forth once more at the sound, and

met my pretty mistress in her walking dress, with the basket in her hand

which I had so often carried. But she did not invite me to accompany

her. "Poor Captain," said she, "I am come to bid you good bye. I am

afraid you will miss us sadly; but I hope they will take good care of

you. Good bye, best of dogs."

"Come, Lily, make haste," I heard my master call from the gate, and Lily

and I ran towards him. He was standing by a carriage, with the door

open and the steps let down. The gardener and his wife were near; he

with his hat in his hand, and she wiping her eyes with the corner of her

apron. Lily jumped into the carriage, her papa followed her; the

gardener wished them a pleasant journey, "and a happy return," added his

wife, and they drove off, Lily keeping her head at the window, and

kissing her hand to us till she was out of sight.

At first I had no idea that they were not coming back. Though I heard

the gardener say that they were "gone for good," it did not occur to me

that that meant harm to us. They often went out for a day and returned

in the evening; so at the usual time I expected their ring at the bell,

and went to the gate to meet them. But no bell rang; no carriage drove

up; no sound of horses' hoofs was to be heard in the distance, though I

listened till the gardener came to lock up for the night, and ordered me

to the court, where it was my business to keep guard.

Next morning there was a strange stillness and idleness. No master

taking his early walk over the grounds. No Lily gathering her flowers

before breakfast. No John to open the stable door, and let me in to bark

good morning to the horses. No horses; a boy sweeping the deserted

stable, and rack and manger empty. No carriage; the coach-house filled

with lumber, and the shutters closed in the loft. No servants about. I

rather congratulated myself upon the disappearance of Lily's maid, who

had a habit of making uncivil speeches if I crossed her path in running

to meet Lily. That maid and I had never been friends since I once had

the misfortune to shake myself near her when coming out of the water. I

confess I did wet her, and I did dirty her; but I did not know that

water would hurt her coat,--it never hurt mine; and she need not have

borne malice for ever; I should have forgiven her long ago if she had

dirtied me. But whenever she saw me she took the opportunity of saying

something mortifying, as, "Out of the way; don't come nigh me with that

great mop of yours!" or, "Get along with you! I wonder what Miss Lily

can see to like in such a great lumbering brute." I kept out of her way

as much as I could, and it was now some consolation that she did not

come in mine.

But it was a dull day. In due time the gardener's wife called, and gave

me my breakfast, setting it down outside the kitchen door. It was a

comfortable breakfast, for she was a good-natured woman, not likely to

neglect Lily's charge to take care of me. I wagged my tail, and looked

up in her face to thank her, but she was already gone without taking

farther notice of me. She had done her work of giving me the necessaries

of life, and my feelings were nothing to her. How I remembered my pretty

Lily, and wished for her pleasant welcome.

After breakfast I went on an expedition to the flower-garden, thinking I

might have a chance of finding some trace of my mistress in that

favourite haunt. The gate was shut, but I heard steps, and scratched to

be let in. I scratched and whined for some time; Lily would not have

kept me half so long. At last the gardener looked over the top of the

gate:

"Oh, it's you," said he; "I thought so. But you had best go and amuse

yourself in places proper for you; you are not coming to walk over my

flowerbeds any more."

He did not speak unkindly, and I had often heard him tell Lily that I

was "best out of the flower-garden;" so I could not reasonably grumble;

but his speech showed the change in my position, and I walked away from

the closed gate with my mind much oppressed, and my tail between my

legs.

I intended to go and meditate in the boat, but here again I was

disappointed; the boat-house was locked; I had no resource but to jump

into the water and swim to a little island in which Lily had a favourite

arbour. There in a summer's day she often rested, hidden in jessamine

and honeysuckle; and there I now took refuge, attracted to the spot by

its strong association with herself.

I scarcely know whether I sought the arbour with the hope of finding her

present, or the intention of mourning her absent; but I went to think

about her. Alas! that was all I could do. She was not there. A book of

hers had been left unheeded on the ground, and I laid down and placed my

paws upon it to guard it, as I had often done before. In this position I

fell asleep, and remained unconscious of fortunes or misfortunes, till I

was awakened by dreaming of dinner. _That_ dream could be realised. I

jumped up, shook myself, and yawned more comfortably than I had done all

day.

On moving my paws from Lily's book, it struck me that it would be right

to carry it home to her; and then once more the hope revived of finding

her at home herself. It was the most likely thing in the world that she

should come home to dinner. Everybody did, I supposed; I was going home

to dinner myself.

With the book in my mouth, I swam across the water. Perhaps I did not

keep it quite dry, but I carried it into the house, and laid it down

before the gardener and his wife, who were the only persons I could see

on the premises.

"Well, that is sensible, I must confess," said the gardener. "The dumb

animal has found missy's book, and brought it back. Miss Lily would

like to hear that."

"Ah, she always thought a deal of the creature," replied his wife; "and

for her sake he shan't be neglected. Here's your dinner, Captain."

"Give him that bone," said the gardener; "that's what he'll like."

So they gave me a charming bone, quite to my taste; and for a time I

forgot all my anxieties in the pleasure of turning it round, sucking,

biting, pawing, and growling over it. I cared for no other dinner;

indeed I never could understand how people could trouble themselves to

eat anything else as long as there was a bone to gnaw. But it is

fortunate there are various tastes in the world; and the strange

preference of men for other food is convenient for us dogs, as it leaves

us in more undisputed possession of the bones than if our masters liked

gnawing them too.

But the pleasure of a bone does not last for ever, and among the nobler

races of animals Thought cannot be entirely kept under by eating. I have

heard that greedy human beings sometimes reduce themselves to the

condition of pigs, who are entirely devoted to cramming; but _I_ should

not choose to degrade myself to that level. So I soon began meditating,

and cogitating, and speculating again.

My life now grew every day more and more dismal. Dinner-time brought its

bone, but bones soon failed to comfort me. The gardener said I was "off

my feed," and his wife feared I should mope to death. All day I wandered

about looking for Lily, and at night retired to my kennel, under the sad

impression that she was farther off than ever. The gardener himself once

invited me into the flower-garden in hopes of amusing me, and I explored

all the gravel-walks, carefully avoiding the borders; but there was no

trace of my lost Lily, and I never cared to visit it again.

One day I thought I would search the house. It was thrown open to me.

There were no forbidden drawing-rooms now; I prowled about as I pleased.

If the doors were shut, I might scratch as long as I liked; nobody

answered. If open, I walked round and round the room, brushing the

wainscot with my tail. There were no china ornaments to be thrown down

now, and I might whisk it about as I would. Formerly I had often wished

for free entrance to those rooms; now I should have welcomed a friendly

hand that shut me out of them. In passing before a large mirror, I

marvelled at my own forlorn and neglected appearance. Once, I was worth

looking at in a glass; now, what a difference! Sorrow had so changed my

whole aspect, that I stared with dismay at the gaunt spectre which

stared at me in return, and we howled at each other for company.

[Illustration: CAPTAIN'S DREAM. Page 40]

Lying down before the blank mirror, which had formerly thrown back so

many pleasant images, and now reflected only my solitary figure in the

deserted room, I silently pondered on the past. In a half-wakeful,

half-dozing state, my eyes alternately opening and shutting, now winking

and blinking at the glass, now for a moment losing sight of every thing,

the events of my life seemed to pass before me in a dream; the persons

with whom I had been connected rose up again as shadows, and I myself

seemed another shadow gliding about among them, but a shadow whose

behaviour I had acquired a new faculty of observing.

I saw myself now as others saw me,--an uncommon condition either for

dogs or men,--and I watched my own deportment in all my states of mind

and stages of life. I saw myself first a mere puppy, not worth notice.

The puppy grew, and I saw it as a dog; a fine, well-bred, and certainly

a fortunate dog. Then as a clever, knowing, useful dog; a gentle,

patient, obedient dog. Sometimes perhaps an awkward or foolish dog; but

those were pardonable faults, while I was certainly a brave, honest, and

faithful dog. But at last I saw myself as a _jealous dog_; and I paused,

startled at the strange light in which my conduct appeared. How silly,

unreasonable, and fractious I had been! I plainly perceived that what I

had taken for injured dignity and wounded affection was nothing but

pride and envy; that I had not a single ground of complaint, but that my

own ill-temper might have justly given offence to my best friends; and

while I had fancied myself setting so high a value upon Lily's regard, I

was recklessly running the risk of losing it altogether. Happily I had

been spared _that_ punishment, however well deserved. Lily's friendship

had never failed me. She had either excused or not perceived my faults,

and we had parted on the best possible terms.

Now that I could view matters more justly, I was quite out of patience

with myself for fancying that I should be happy if I no longer saw Lily

nursing that kitten. Happy indeed! There was no chance of my being

troubled with such a sight, and I was miserable! I would have put up

with all the cats and kittens that were met coming from St. Ives; I

would have tried to settle the quarrel between the Kilkenny cats who ate

each other up, all but the tips of their tails;--any thing to see Lily

once more, even if she chose to nurse all the kittens of "Catland."

But it was too late; my regrets were all in vain; and the only course

that seemed left for me now was to give up the rest of my days to

brooding over my sorrows and my faults. But before I had quite devoted

myself to this line of life, I gave a glance at my shadow in the glass

doing the same. There I saw him moping away all his time; making no

amends for his bad conduct, no attempts at behaving better; utterly

useless, sulky, and disagreeable; in fact, more foolish than ever.

"No," thought I, as I jumped up and shook myself all over, "I will not

have this distressing experience for nothing; I will make good use of

it; I cannot recall the past, but I will act differently for the

future;" and down I lay again to make plans for the future. Coming

events cast no shadows before, either in the glass or in my dreams. I

knew nothing about what I might, could, would, or should do. The Past I

had lost, the Future was not in my power; and what remained to me?

Perhaps I might never have an opportunity of behaving well again.

I was fast relapsing into despondency, when suddenly I was aroused from

my dreams by a sound once odious to me. I raised myself upon my front

paws and listened. There was no mistake, I heard it again; a thin and

timid _mew_, dying away in the distance, and sounding as if it proceeded

from the mere shadow of a cat. But faint and shadowy as it was, I

recognised it; it recalled me to realities, and the conviction of my

right line of conduct flashed across my mind. The Present--the present

moment was mine. I could only take warning by the past, and hope for the

future, but I must act _now_. I have but to take every opportunity when

it offers itself, and there would be no fear of not having opportunities

enough. Here was one ready at hand. Instead of worrying that kitten, who

was now in my power, I would magnanimously endure her existence. I would

do more; I would let her know that she had nothing any longer to fear

from me; and in pursuance of this kind intention, I walked about the

room in search of her.

I soon descried her, perched upon the top of a high bookcase, not daring

to come down for fear of me. She was altered by recent events, though

not so much as I. She looked forlorn and uncomfortable, but not shaggy,

haggard, or dirty. The regard to her toilette which had characterised

her in better days still clung to her, and made her neat and tidy in

misfortune. The blue ribbon round her neck was indeed faded, but in

other respects she looked as clean and white and sleek as Lily herself.

She had evidently licked herself all over every day, instead of moping

in the dirt. She and Lily had always been somewhat alike in point of

cleanliness. Indeed, I once imagined that Lily must lick herself all

over in order to look so clean; but on further consideration I had

reason to believe that she commonly attained her object by plunging into

cold water, more after my own fashion.

But to return to the kitten. There she stood, the very picture of fear;

her legs stretched, her tail arched, her back raised, trying to assume

the best posture of defence she could, but evidently believing it of no

use. She mewed louder at every step I took nearer. Even if I had been

inclined to harm her, she was safe enough on the top of that high

bookcase; but she did not know that. In her inexperience, she fancied me

able to spring about the world as she did, and expected every moment

that I should perch on the carved oak crown, and seize her in my mouth,

jump down again and crunch her as she would a mouse.

She began running backwards and forwards on the top of her bookcase,

mewing piteously at every turn. I understood her language: it meant,

"Oh, what shall I do? Mew, mew! Pray, my lord, have pity upon an

unfortunate kitten! Mew, mew, mew! If you will let me run away this

time, I will keep out of your lordship's sight all the rest of my life.

Mew, mew, mew! Oh dear, I had not the least intention of intruding on

your highness; I thought your majesty was in the stable. I wish I was

in the coal-cellar myself. Oh, oh, pray! oh, mew!"

So she went on for a long time, in too great a fright to observe the

encouragement and condescension which I threw into my countenance and

manner. I sat down in front of the bookcase, and holding my head on one

side, looked up at her with an expression of gentle benevolence, which I

thought must re-assure the most timid spirit. It had some effect. She

ceased running from side to side, and stopped opposite me, her yellow

eyes fixed on mine. I returned her gaze, and wagged my tail. She lowered

hers, which bad been held up like a peacock's, and reduced to its

natural dimensions. After a sufficient amount of staring, we began to

understand one another, and Pussy's mews were in a very different tone,

and one much more satisfactory to me.

[Illustration: PUSS AND THE CAPTAIN. Page 46]

Though every animal makes use of a dialect of its own, so different as

to appear to men a distinct language for each race,--for instance, the

barking of a dog, the mewing of a cat, the bellowing of a bull,

&c.,--still, a general mode of expression is common to all, and all can

understand and be understood by one another. The reason of this is, that

the universal language is that of _feeling_ only, which is alike to

every one, and can be made evident by the most inarticulate sounds.

Moans, murmurs, sighs, whines, growls, roars, are sufficient to

express our _feelings_: our _thoughts_, when we have any, we must keep

to ourselves; for they cannot be made intelligible by mere sound without

speech, and speech we know belongs to man alone. In fact, I suppose it

is the power of thinking and speaking which makes him our master;

without it, I am not at all sure that he would have so much the upper

hand of us, for we are often the strongest. But a man can always know

what he means to do, and why he means to do it; and he can tell others,

and consult them about it; which, of course, gives him an immense

advantage over us, who only act upon the spur of the moment, without

knowing whether we are right or wrong.

Good-nature was all that Pussy and I wanted to express just now, and

_that_ is always easy to show, with or without words. Mews in various

tones from her were met by small, good-humoured half-barks and agreeable

grunts from me, till at last she fairly left off mewing, and began to

purr. Much pleased with my success so far, I now lay down, stretching

out my front paws to their full length before, and my tail behind,

brushing the floor in a half-circle with the latter. Then I yawned in a

friendly way, and finally laid my head down on my paws to watch my

little protégée quietly, in hopes of enticing her from her fortress.

This last insinuating attitude decided her. She gently placed first one

little white paw, and then another, on projecting ornaments of the

bookcase, one step on the lion, and the next on the unicorn; and without

hurting either herself or the delicate carved work which she chose to

use as her staircase, she alighted harmless and unharmed within my

reach. Then she mewed once more; but that was her last expression of

doubt or dread. I soon reassured her; and that moment was the first of a

confidence and intimacy seldom seen between our uncongenial races.

We had now, in our way, a long conversation, during which we became

pretty well acquainted with each other's dispositions; and in due time

we descended the stairs together in perfect amity; I gravely walked step

by step, and looking up benignly at the gambols of little Pussy, who,

now in high spirits, had no idea of coming down in a regular way, but

must scramble up the banisters, hang by her claws from the hand-rail,

recover herself instantaneously when within an inch of falling headlong

into the hall, and play a hundred other wild tricks. A short time

before, I should have thought all this a most despicable waste of time

and strength; but now I could see that it did her good and made her

happy, and I looked on rather with approbation.

I shall never forget the surprise of the gardener's wife when Puss and I

entered the kitchen side by side. She screamed as if we had been a

couple of wild beasts.

"Oh," cried she, "there's that poor little kitten just under Captain's

nose! He'll be the death of her. What shall I do?"

She seized a broom, and held it between us, ready to beat me if I

ventured to attack the kitten. But I wagged my tail, and Puss jumped

over the broomstick.

"Well to be sure!" said Mrs. Gardener, letting fall the broom, and

holding up her hands; "did any body ever see the like of that!"

She placed a saucer of milk on the floor, and I sat quietly and let the

kitten drink it. The kitten herself was a little surprised at this, and

hesitated before beginning, not knowing exactly what it might be proper

for her to do; indeed, I could scarcely expect her to understand the

etiquette of so unusual a circumstance; but she had a great deal of

tact, and soon perceived that I wished her to go on naturally; so she

began lapping, though looking round at me between every two or three

mouthfuls, to make sure that she was not taking a liberty. But meeting

with nothing but encouragement, she finished her repast with great

satisfaction, and we both laid ourselves down by the kitchen-fire, as

if we had been friends all our lives.

"Well to be sure!" exclaimed the gardener's wife again. It was her

favourite phrase; she seemed never to tire of it, and to have little

else to say; but I understood what she meant, and took a comfortable nap

in consequence.

By and by came dinner, and a pleasant little meal it was. Instead of

flying at the kitten for presuming to eat at all, I quite enjoyed having

a companion. My platter stood, as usual, in the yard, and Pussy's in a

corner of the kitchen; but by mutual consent we began dragging our

respective bones along the ground to eat in company; and the gardener's

wife seeing the proceeding, carried our plates for us, and placed them

side by side outside the door, and we finished our meal in the most

sociable manner.

Times were now altered: but I need not give a detailed account of every

day. The good understanding between Pussy and me continued to increase,

till it ripened into the warmest friendship. Uncongenial companion as

she appeared, I grew by degrees fonder of her than I had ever been of

any of my own tribe; and although our habits were by nature totally

dissimilar, we learned to understand, and even to take pleasure in

accommodating ourselves to each other's little peculiarities.

I confess this was not done in a moment. At first I certainly was

occasionally annoyed by Pussy's inconsistencies. She would profess to be

so refined, that a speck of dirt on her white coat made her unhappy; so

delicate, that she could not endure to wet her feet; so modest, that she

could not bear to be looked at while she was eating; while at the same

time she would scamper into the dirtiest hole after a mouse, and then

devour the nasty vermin with a satisfaction quite disgusting to a

well-bred sporting dog like myself.

I wished to educate her in the sentiments and habits of my own nobler

race, but I found it a hopeless task. If I took her out for a walk, and

tried to impress her with the pleasure of a good healthy swim in the

pond, she listened politely; but in spite of all my arguments, when we

arrived at the water's edge, and I plunged in, she never could be

induced to follow; there she stood, mewing and shivering on the brink,

not daring even to wet her claws. If I objected to her mice, she argued

that they were her natural food, and agreed with her; and so on through

all my attempts to reform her.

The little creature had generally an answer ready; and what was

peculiarly provoking to a person unused to contradiction, like myself,

she often disputed points upon which I had supposed there could be but

one opinion. When I was trying to shame her into being more like a dog,

she actually told me that she doubted whether mine really was the nobler

race, for that the lion was her chief, and she challenged me to show his

equal. This was the more irritating because I could not answer it; and I

take some credit to myself for having kept my temper on the occasion, as

I did feel tempted to give her a shake. Luckily it occurred to me that

quarrelling with people for being in the right would not put them in the

wrong, and that shaking them might not be the way to shake their

opinions. So I was silent, and pretended to be indulgent.

After all, the little cat had received an education extremely suitable

to her character and circumstances. Lily had made an in-door companion

of her, as she had made an out-door one of me, and had taken great pains

to cultivate her natural talents. Her manners were perfect. It was

impossible to be more gentle, graceful, and courteous than Puss. Always

at hand, but never in the way; quick in observing, but slow in

interfering; active and ready in her own work, but quiet and retiring

when not required to come forward; affectionate in her temper, and

regular in her habits,--she was a thoroughly feminine domestic

character.

She had her own ideas about me, which she communicated to me when we

were sufficiently intimate for her to speak openly. Perhaps she did not

admire me quite so much as I admired myself; but perhaps she was

right--who knows? I have heard that even among men, lookers-on are

sometimes the best judges. She did full justice to my strength and

courage, and applauded my daring way of rushing upon an enemy, without

regard to his size or position, instead of running into a corner and

spitting at him. She admitted, without hesitation, that mine was the

superior proceeding; but she suggested, that perhaps it might be as well

not to be quite so ready to attack other dogs before they had given me

any offence: also that it was unnecessary to suppose that every man who

came to the house _must_ have bad intentions, whether he gave me just

cause for suspicion or not. In fact, she hinted that it was good to be

brave, but bad to be quarrelsome. Then as to my personal appearance, she

acknowledged that I was larger and handsomer than she, and that my

rough, shaggy coat was far from unbecoming; but when I laughed at her

finical cleanliness, and called her affected for not keeping her own

white fur as rough and muddy as mine, she reminded me that it was that

very neatness, so despised by me, which had procured her entrance into

Lily's drawing-room, while I, with all my good qualities, was never

allowed to come up stairs.

I had always thought it rather grand to bang about in a careless manner;

and if I knocked any thing down, I supposed it was the thing's fault. I

once swept down with my tail a whole trayful of crockery; and when I was

scolded for doing mischief, I thought it quite sufficient excuse to say

to myself, "I did not do it on purpose; what is the use of making such a

fuss?" But I now saw clearly that Pussy's care not to do any mischief at

all was both more agreeable to others and more advantageous to herself.

For instance, the gardener's wife turned me out in the cold while she

was washing the china, whereas she let Pussy walk about on the very

table among the cups and saucers, stepping so carefully with her soft

little paws that there was no danger of any breakage. I have seen her

walk along the edge of every shelf on the dresser, without disarranging

a single plate. Then, while I was despising Puss for catching mice, I

heard the gardener's wife giving her the highest praise for being an

excellent mouser; and to my surprise, I found out that it was the

regular work for which she was kept in the house.

So, as time went on, we learnt to understand each other better and

better, and our companionship was useful in teaching us to be less

narrow-minded in our estimation of each other and things in general. I

discovered that it was not necessary for every body to be exactly alike;

that cats and dogs, and perhaps also men and women, had a right each to

his own character; and that people must be mutually accommodating, every

body giving up a little, and no one expecting to make his own way the

rule for every body. And Pussy learnt herself, and taught me another

lesson, that every body is one's superior in something, so that any body

may improve by taking pattern by any body else; I mean, by looking for

and imitating their good qualities, instead of picking out and snarling

over their faults.

Time slipped away very happily and imperceptibly. There were few changes

in our mode of life; though Pussy, from a kitten, in due time became a

full-grown cat, who left off running after her tail and climbing up the

banisters, and walked up and down stairs as steadily as I did myself. In

other respects our relations remained the same; I was the patron and

protector, she the friend and companion, sharing the same kennel and the

same platter, and both metamorphosed from the bitterest enemies into the

comfort and delight of each other's lives.

One day while we were basking in the sunshine, with our eyes half shut,

and Pussy purring pleasantly, I heard the sound of wheels at a distance.

Supposing it to be the baker's cart, I roused myself, and ran to the

gate, according to custom, to see him give in the bread. But long before

the vehicle came in sight, I smelt the difference between it and the

baker's cart. It came nearer; I felt in a state of uncommon agitation;

old recollections and associations returned with extraordinary

vividness, and my eagerness was intense till the carriage stopped at the

door. No wonder I had been so much excited; for who should be on the box

but my old friend John? and who should get out of the carriage but my

master himself.

Was I not in raptures! And did I not jump and tear about the court in my

joy! Pussy sat at the window watching my vagaries with astonishment.

When she understood the state of the case, she was very glad to see our

master, but expressed her pleasure in a more moderate way than I.

My master and John were cordial in their greetings to every body, but

they seemed very busy, and spent the rest of the day in walking over the

place and giving a number of orders. I followed close at their heels,

very happy to be in their company once more. The gardener and his wife

made many inquiries about Lily, as I would have done myself if I could;

and I listened eagerly to my master's replies, though I was rather

puzzled by some of them. He said she was quite well and very happy, but

that he missed her sadly.

"I can understand _that_," thought I, as I looked up at him in sympathy.

I believe he understood me, for he patted my head, saying, "Poor

Captain, she was very fond of you."

The gardener and his wife said that they had been "quite proud to hear

the news, for that if any body deserved her it was Sir Rodolph;" and my

master answered, "True, true; I must not complain of giving her up to

_him_."

Although I could not make out her history very accurately; but on

discussing it with Puss, and putting together everything that we heard

my master say in the garden, and John say in the kitchen, we came to the

conclusion that Lily was gone to live at some distance in a home of her

own; that Craven's good elder brother was her companion there; and that

her papa was much pleased with the arrangement, though he lost her

company. It seemed an odd affair to Pussy and me, and we purred and

pondered over it. Puss confessed that she could not understand a

person's leaving the house in which she was born. My views were larger.

I could imagine being contented in any place, provided my friends were

there too; but the separation from friends seemed an unnatural

proceeding. However, John had distinctly said that her papa was very

much pleased; so we decided that human beings were gifted with greater

powers than ourselves of bearing change, and making themselves happy and

useful under a variety of circumstances. For we had no doubt of Lily's

being happy and useful wherever she might be. I could as soon have

fancied myself encouraging my thieves, or Puss neglecting her mice, as

Lily idle or out of spirits.

In the course of the next day, John brought the carriage to the door

again, and invited me to take a drive. Much flattered, I scrambled to

the box, and sat by his side as steadily as I could, though the movement

of the carriage was not much to my taste. Several times I could not

resist trying to get down and run by the side; but John scolded me and

held me fast, only indulging me with an occasional scamper when we were

going up hill.

I had not omitted a good-humoured bark to Pussy when we started, by way

of farewell; for she came to see us off, though she was too humble to

expect an invitation to join the party. I fully supposed that we should

return in an hour or two, and that I should have the pleasure of telling

her my morning's adventures. But we travelled up hill and down hill,

through strange villages and an unknown country, and still we went on

and on, without any symptoms of turning.

In time we stopped at an inn, where my master had his dinner; and I went

with John to the stables, and saw him feed the horses, and then followed

him to the kitchen, where he too ate his dinner, and gave some to me.

Then we set off on our journey again. Now I thought we were surely going

home; but no; still straight on through new roads all day till the sun

went down and the evening grew so dark that I could not see the country;

and yet no talk of returning. John stopped the carriage, and lighted the

lamps; and then on again, at the same steady pace, through the unknown

land.

Tired of travelling in the wrong direction, as it appeared to me, and

without any object, I curled myself round at John's feet and took a long

nap. On waking, I found myself in a scene altogether strange to me. We

were passing through the streets of a city. I sat up and turned my head

from side to side, quite bewildered by the difference between such a

place and the country villages in which I had passed my life.

"Ah, you may well look about you," said John; "you are not the only one

that hasn't known what to make of London."

The noise and confusion were astonishing. Though it was now so late

that every body ought to have been asleep in their kennels, the

innumerable lights in the houses made the night as bright as day. The

streets were swarming with people; men and women, carriages and horses,

even dogs and cats, met us every moment. I supposed they must be a kind

of savages, who came out in the night like wild beasts, and I tried

barking at them to frighten them back to their dens; but it had no

effect, and John bade me be quiet. Indeed, I myself perceived that it

would be a hopeless task to bark at everybody that went by. Their

numbers were like the autumn leaves falling from the trees in our avenue

during a high wind, and I could only suppose that next day I should find

them all swept up in heaps at the side of the road.

At last we stopped before a house; and very glad I was to be ordered to

jump down and go in, and not at all sorry for the good supper that was

presently given me. I was too tired even to wonder where I was, or to do

or think of anything that night except going to sleep; and that I did

thoroughly, after my long journey.

But next day I was myself again, and up early to explore the premises.

What I saw at first was not much to my taste. I did not admire my

kennel; it was decidedly dull, fixed in the corner of a small courtyard

surrounded by high walls. No trees, no river, no garden; nothing to be

seen but a square patch of sky above the walls; nothing to be heard but

a continual heavy rumbling outside. I soon grew tired of watching the

clouds, and pacing round the little court; and as soon as the house was

open, I found my way to the street door. _There_ I could certainly not

complain of being dull. If London had seemed bustling the night before,

what was it now by broad daylight, with the full sun shining on the

countless passengers! I could scarcely keep still myself, with the

excitement of watching such incessant movement.

To my great disappointment, before long, John called me in, fearing that

I might stray from the house and be lost or stolen. Of course, I obeyed

him directly; but he perceived my vexation, and good-naturedly showed me

a locker under the hall-window, where I might sit and study the humours

of London at my pleasure. I thought I should never be tired of looking

out of that window. The scene was so new and charming, that it

reconciled me at once to my present situation, and even to the hours

which might necessarily be passed in my ugly kennel. I really preferred

it to the Manor.

There, even while my master and Lily were living with me, we were a good

deal left to ourselves. A few foot passengers and carts might come by

in the course of the day, carriages and horses perhaps once in a week.

Visitors, if they came, stayed for hours, so that I had ample time to

make myself master of their characters, as well as those of their horses

and dogs. Every body whom I knew at all, I knew intimately; and

notwithstanding Pussy's hints about rash judgments, I doubt whether I

was ever really in danger of mistaking an honest man for a thief. But if

my old home was more favourable to tranquil reflection, certainly this

place had the advantage of amusement and variety. Here there was no time

for studying character, nor doing anything else _leisurely_. I scarcely

caught a glimpse of any one, before he was out of sight. A quiet nap was

out of the question; if I so much as winked, I lost the view of

something. The stream of comers and goers was ever flowing. Nobody stood

still, nobody turned back; nobody walked up and down, as my master and

his visitors used on the terrace, while I observed their manners; here,

as soon as one had passed, his place was taken by another. I watched for

hours, expecting that some time or other they would all have gone by,

and the street be left to silence and to me. But nothing of the sort

happened; they were still going on and on, crossing each other in every

direction; and for as many as went by, there seemed always twice as many

yet to come.

In time I grew less confused, and I went out walking with my master or

John until I knew my way about the streets, so that I could be trusted

to go out by myself and come safe home again.

The care of the house also devolved once more upon me; and it was a more

responsible charge than at home, on account of the immense variety of

characters which I was obliged to understand. As to bribery, whether in

town or country, I was always incorruptible; but I found it necessary to

quicken my powers of observation, in order to be up to my duty in

London. I used sometimes to single out a suspicious individual in the

crowd, and follow him through two or three streets, till I had

thoroughly smelt out his character; and before long, I saw all I wanted

so quickly and accurately, that John himself was ready to submit his

judgment to mine. I learned to know my man, and to make him know me too;

and it would have required a daring thief to attempt our house.

I own I soon thoroughly enjoyed London and its ways, and quite left off

wishing to return to the monotony of the Manor. But though my life was

pleasant, let nobody do me the injustice to imagine that either its

novelty or its occupation could banish from my memory the dear little

companion who had formed my happiness at home. Forget my Pussy I never

did, though for a time I seemed contented without her. But, for the

first few days, I constantly expected to see her arrive. I took it for

granted that she would be brought to London just as I had been myself;

and every evening, at the hour of our own arrival, I went to the

hall-door, and sat patiently on the mat for a considerable time, fully

expecting every moment that a carriage would stop, and that I should be

the first to welcome my friend.

But day after day passed without bringing her. Plenty of other cats were

clambering about the roof of the house, or showing themselves against

the sky on the top of the wall; but they were all cross and spiteful,

setting up their backs and snarling at me if I only looked at them. I

had no wish to make their acquaintance, for there was but one cat in the

world that I cared for. My love was for the individual, not the race.

Dogs were numerous in the neighbourhood, and among them were several

intelligent, cultivated animals with whom I could be on pleasant barking

terms; but friendship is not made in a day, and these new acquaintances

could not make up for the want of my cat.

As I grew weary of watching for her in vain, I left off waiting at the

hall-door, and passed my evenings in thinking about her, sometimes by

the kitchen fire, sometimes in the study, on the rug at my master's

feet. But the more I thought about her, the more I missed her, till at

last I quite lost all my spirits. I could not eat my food without her to

partake of it; I scarcely cared to growl, and took no pleasure in

barking. In short, I pined for her as I had once done for Lily; and John

and my master asked each other every day what could be the matter with

me.

At last, finding it impossible to bear such a life any longer, I began

to consider whether there was no remedy in my power. I knew that if my

master objected to any thing, he did not lie on the rug and mope, but he

worked hard to set it to rights. The more I thought about it, the more I

perceived that mere thinking would not do; I must set to work and help

myself. So I took my resolution, and determined to risk every thing

rather than go on in this dawdling way, fretting my heart out.

But how? Why, how did I come here myself? People had tried to bring me,

and succeeded; why should not I try to bring Pussy? I might not succeed,

for I did not conceal from myself the difficulties of the undertaking;

but what great enterprise was ever accomplished without danger or

difficulty? At any rate, it was worth the trial; and if I _did_ succeed,

Pussy was worth every thing. So, as she would not come, I would go and

fetch her.

This once decided, it was evident that the sooner I set off the better;

because the road not being familiar to me, it was important that I

should travel it again before all traces of our former journey were

lost. As yet, we had not been so long in London but that I had reason to

think I should recognise the principal turnings, besides various objects

on the road. I had been asleep during part of the journey, it is true;

but I hoped that my acute sense of smell would come to my help when

eyesight failed.

And here I reflected with satisfaction upon the many advantages I had

over my master in travelling. First, what a much better nose mine was!

His seemed of very little use to him up in the air, out of reach of the

ground. If he had not been able to ask his way, I am sure he could never

have found it out by smelling. Then, how inconvenient to be obliged to

carry so many things with him! He could not move without a portmanteau

or a carpet-bag full of strange clothes, instead of being contented with

one good coat on his back. I never could understand why any body should

want more than one coat. Mine was always new, always comfortable,

suited to all seasons, and fitting beautifully, having adapted itself to

my growth at all stages of my life, without any attention from me. _I_

never had any trouble with tailors, snipping and measuring, trying on

and altering. My coat would dry on me too, whereas my poor master could

not even jump into the river without taking his off; if it so much as

rained, he wanted an umbrella. Then, he never seemed able to run any

distance. For a few hundred yards it was all very well, but after that

he began to walk; and if he made a single day's journey, he was obliged

to be helped by a horse. Poor man! I pitied him; and yet I never for a

moment hesitated to acknowledge him as my master; for, with all his

detects, I felt that he was in possession of some faculty

incomprehensible to me, but which overpowered a thousand and a thousand

times the utmost animal superiority.

But to return to my own adventures. I determined to find my way to my

native village as a dog best might, without delay. So the next morning I

set off, following my nose, which was my best guide, through the

intricacies of the London streets. More than once I took a wrong turn;

but after going a little way up the street, I always discovered my

mistake, and retraced my steps.

Once I met two gentlemen whom I knew. One asked the other if I was not

my master's dog; the other looked round and called, "Captain! Captain!"

I was very near wagging my tail and looking up at the familiar sound,

but I fortunately recollected myself in time. As he was not my master, I

was not bound to be obedient; so I held my ears and tail still by a

strong determination, and trotted on, taking no notice.

Another time, as I was sniffing the ground where several streets

branched off, I heard an ill-toned voice say, "There's a dog that has

lost his master."

"Fine dog, too," said another; "there will be a good reward advertised

for him."

"Humph, there's more to be made by him than that," replied the first;

and as I looked up at him, I recognised the very man whom I had formerly

prevented from breaking into my master's country house. I growled

fiercely; and if he had attempted to approach me, I was prepared for a

spring at his throat.

"He seems to have a spite against you; best leave him alone," said the

other. And the two turned away, evidently aware that it would not be

safe to meddle with me; and I once more pursued my journey in quiet.

Having my own reasons for not wishing to attract attention, I jostled

against as few passengers as possible, and did my utmost to keep clear

of inquisitive dogs or arrogant horses, so that I met with few

obstacles, and before mid-day arrived safely at the outskirts of London.

Then my way became much plainer; a country road, with hedges and fields

on each side, was easily tracked; and I could hold up my head in comfort

as I ran along at a good pace, instead of keeping my nose close to the

ground for fear of losing my way.

I came to a place where four roads met, and there, though but for a few

moments, I was perplexed. There was a sign-post, but that was nothing to

me; it might have been useful to my poor master, but to me it was only

one of his many encumbrances, which were superseded by my nose.

So I followed my nose up one of the roads; it would not do. Up a second

and a third; still my nose refused assent. As there was but one road

more, I had no further choice; so I troubled my nose no more, but

galloped joyfully ahead without any difficulty on the subject, wondering

whether my master would have found the way by his reason as surely as I

by my instinct.

As the day went on, I began to grow uncommonly hungry; that is to say,

hungry for _me_, who had never yet known what it was to want a meal.

Accustomed to regular daily food as often as I required it, I do not

suppose that in my comfortable life I ever knew what real hunger was,

such hunger as is felt by poor creatures with but scanty food for one

day, and uncertain even of _that_ for the next. But I felt that I should

like my dinner; and, for the first time in my life, was called upon to

find it for myself.

And, really, when a person has been accustomed to see set before him

every day, at his own hour, on his own platter, a supply of bread and

meat nicely mixed, with perhaps some pudding to finish it, and no

trouble required on his part but to eat it tidily, and say "Thank you"

after his fashion, it is no small puzzle suddenly to be obliged to

provide his own dinner from beginning to end--catching, cooking, and

serving it up. There are more in the world than I who would know how to

do nothing but eat it. If I had been a wild dog, used to the habits of

savage life, I might have hunted down some smaller animal as wild as

myself, torn it to pieces, and devoured it raw; but I was a civilised

creature, so altered by education, that in my hunting days I always

brought the game to my master instead of eating it myself; and here, on

the London high road, there was not even game to be caught. I really

was quite at a loss what to do.

In course of time I came up with a traveller sitting under a hedge,

eating a lump of bread and cheese. I would not have accepted bread and

cheese at home if it had been offered me, but now I stopped in front of

the eater and began to beg for some, licking my lips, and wagging my

tail in my most insinuating manner.

He threw me a scrap of coarse bread, saying, "There's for you; but I

dare say you are too well fed to eat it."

His supposition would have been true enough the day before; but hunger

cures daintiness, and now I was glad of such a mouthful. I bolted it in

an instant, and looked for more. He threw me one other crust, saying

that was all he could spare; and, finishing the rest himself, went on

his way, leaving me as hungry as ever.

By and by, in passing through a village, I came to a butcher's shop. The

butcher was not in sight, and meat was spread in the most tempting

manner on the board.

"How easily," thought I, "I could steal that nice raw chop, and run away

with it! Nobody could see me, and I do not believe any body could catch

me."

_Steal it_--the thought startled me. Brought up from my earliest

puppyhood in the strictest principles of honesty; able, as I imagined,

to see the best-stocked larder, or the most amply-supplied table,

without even wishing to touch what was not my own;--was I now, on the

very first temptation, the first time in my life that I had ever been

really hungry, to forget all I had been taught, and to become a _thief_?

Was it only the fear of blows that had kept me honest? Was my honesty

worthy the name, if I was only honest when I had no temptation to be

otherwise? I was ashamed of myself, and turning from the shop, passed on

with drooping ears.

Presently I met with a dog so extra fat as to show plainly that he had

never gone without his dinner, and yet he was growling over a bone as if

he had been starving. On looking more closely at him, I perceived that

he was in possession of two bones, either of them enough for one dog;

but he was unable to make use of one, for fear of the other's being

taken from him. So there he lay, with his paws upon both, growling

instead of enjoying himself. He was a larger dog than I, but not nearly

so strong, being grown helpless and unwieldly through long habits of

greediness and laziness. I saw that I could easily master him and take

one of his bones by brute force, and at first I felt inclined to help

myself by this means. I thought I had a good right so to do. I actually

wanted the necessaries of life, while he was revelling in superfluous

luxury. Was I not justified, nay more, was I not bound in common sense

and justice to take from him what he did not want, and give it to myself

who did want it? Even if I robbed him of one of his bones, I should

leave him as much as I took away.

_Robbed_--another awkward word! I paused again. Assault and robbery were

perhaps not so mean as sneaking theft, but were they more allowable? The

bones were his own, his property; given to him by some one who had a

right to dispose of them; and though at this moment I might wish for a

more equal distribution, I had sense enough to know that it would be a

bad state of things if every dog were to seize upon every neighbouring

dog's bones at his own discretion. It might suit me at this moment, but

to-morrow a stronger dog might think that _I_ had too much, and insist

upon my relinquishing half of _my_ dinner. Who was to be the judge?

Every dog would differ in opinion as to how much was his own fair share,

and how much might be left to his neighbour. No large dog would allow

another to dine while he himself was hungry; and it would end by the

strongest getting all the bones, while the poor, inferior curs were

worse off than ever. So I determined to respect the rights of property,

for the sake of small dogs as well as for my own.

After all, starvation was not inevitable. It might be possible to get a

dinner without fighting for it. I sat down opposite my new acquaintance,

and entered into civil conversation with him. I found him much more

friendly than I expected. He had certainly been accustomed to more

indulgence and idleness than was good for him, but his natural

disposition was not entirely spoilt. He was the peculiar pet of a lady,

who thought it kindness to cram him from morning till night with food

that disagreed with him, to provide him with no occupation, and to

deprive him of healthy exercise, so that no wonder he had grown lazy and

selfish; but his native spirit was not entirely extinguished, and he

assured me that a bare bone to growl over, and a little comfortable rain

and mud to disport himself in like a dog, were still the greatest treats

that could be offered to him. His temper had been farther soured by the

spite and envy of dogs around him, who, less petted themselves, and not

aware how little his petting contributed to his comfort, grudged him

every thing that he possessed, and lost no opportunity of snapping and

snarling at him.

When I reflected on the difference between his circumstances and my own,

I felt more inclined to pity than to blame him; but though I condoled

with him kindly, and whined in sympathy, I took care to give him the

best advice in my power, and to suggest such changes in his own conduct

as might tend to better his lot.

He listened with patience and candour, and showed his gratitude by

treating me with the most cordial hospitality. He gave me an excellent

bone, and offered to share his kennel with me; but after my dinner and a

nap I was so thoroughly refreshed, that I preferred continuing my

journey. He pressed me to call on him in my way back, provided I

returned alone; but honestly confessed that if I was accompanied by a

cat, he feared that the force of habit might be too strong to allow of

his being as polite to her as he could wish. Remembering my own early

prejudices, I had no right to blame him; and we parted excellent

friends, though I declined his invitation.

I met with no more adventures or difficulties. Even my night's lodging

gave me no trouble; for when it was growing dark, and I felt too tired

to run any farther, I espied a heap of straw thrown out by the

stable-door of a roadside inn, and I soon scratched and smoothed it into

as comfortable a bed as dog need wish. By break of day I was on my

travels again; and being now near my native village, in a road of which

I knew every step, I had no further perplexity, and by breakfast-time

arrived at my old home.

It had never occurred to me that any body would be surprised to see me.

Having always met with a hearty welcome, I expected one as a matter of

course; but I certainly never anticipated being received with a shout of

astonishment, and to this day I cannot understand why they were all so

amazed. But so it was. When the gardener opened the gate and saw me

sitting outside, he started as if I had been a strange dog going to fly

at him; and instead of speaking to me, began calling as loud as he could

to his wife:

"Peggy! why, Peggy, make haste, I say. Here's the dog! How did he ever

come here?"

The old lady came bustling along at double her usual speed, and I

thought she would immediately explain my appearance; but she seemed even

more surprised than her husband; she fairly screamed.

"Well to be sure!" exclaimed she as usual, as soon as she had recovered

her breath; "well to be sure! Did any body ever see such a thing? How

can he have come? Do you think master is on the road?"

"I'll run down to the turnpike and see," answered her husband; and off

he set, without bestowing a word upon me; his wife meanwhile, with her

apron thrown over her head, straining her eyes to look after him. I

wagged my tail, and patted her with my paw, and did my best to make her

understand that I was there on my own account; but her head was too full

of fancies to attend to the reality, and she persisted in looking out

for my master who was not coming, and neglecting me who was there under

her eyes. So I left her to find out the state of the case as she could,

and turned my steps towards the house, where I hoped to meet a friend,

who would think nothing so natural as my being at her side.

I peeped in at the kitchen window, and there sat my Pussy, in her old

place before the fire, looking just as when I left her--the neatest,

whitest, softest, and gentlest of creatures. _She_ was not surprised to

see me. She winked and blinked a little, as if she was dreaming of me at

that moment, and was afraid to open her eyes more than half-way, lest

the dream should vanish; but at last she opened them altogether, and the

dream turned to reality. Then, had we not a happy meeting!

There was much to tell on both sides before we could properly discuss

the grand object of my coming, and our time was a good deal taken up by

a constant succession of visitors; not dogs or cats, as might have been

expected, but boys and girls, men and women, friends of the servants,

all pouring in to see _me_. From the time that the gardener and his wife

had satisfied themselves that my master was not coming with me, they

seemed to consider my arrival stranger than ever, and to think it

necessary to inform every body of the circumstances,--though I should

certainly have supposed there would be more wonder in seeing two persons

than one. Pussy did not approve of so much company, as she always

disliked to be stared at; I, being of a less retiring turn of mind, was

perhaps rather flattered by the notice; but, by the time evening came,

even I was glad to have the house quiet. Then we lay by the fire, and

explained all our feelings to each other.

I described to my friend how unhappy I had been without her, and how

amidst all the pleasures of London I had languished for her company,

till I could bear my loneliness no longer; and I entreated her, for my

sake, to relinquish all her present habits, and to try a new life and a

new home.

She heard me with much sympathy, and owned that she too had been

unhappy; and that, notwithstanding the placid exterior which she had

thought it right to keep up, she had missed me quite as much as I missed

her. But she did not at once, as I hoped, agree eagerly to my proposal

of accompanying me to London. She hesitated. The journey seemed an

arduous undertaking. What strange dogs she might meet! what showers of

rain! what obstacles of all kinds, that had never suggested themselves

to me!

I strenuously combated all her objections, trying to convince her that

the journey which seemed so formidable would turn out a mere

pleasure-excursion. I did not mind getting wet myself; but as she did, I

was glad to assure her that there was plenty of shelter in case of rain.

Indeed, one might suppose that the whole road had been laid out for the

express convenience of cat travellers; there were such hedges, trees,

stiles, sheltered nooks, and sunny banks in every direction. Then as for

strange dogs, was I not there to protect her? was I not a match for any

dog? and did she not know that I would gladly shed the last drop of my

blood in her cause, besides enjoying a fight on my own account? She

sighed, but her sigh was a nearer approach to a purr than before, though

her objections were far from being finished.

She owned that she dreaded change. She had her own habits and her own

duties; she had been used all her life to that same house, with its

cellars and its pantries under her especial charge, and she was afraid

that in a new place she might be idle and uncomfortable.

This seemed to me a most unreasonable punctilio. I allowed that she

might fairly prefer the country, but I could not for a moment admit that

a town life need be idle. Did she suppose there were no mice in London?

I could answer for the contrary. The servants were perpetually

complaining not only of mice, but of rats; and only the day before I

started, I had heard them declare that they could not do without a cat

any longer. A most active life was open to her. The only danger was,

that she might find too much to do, and that her love of neatness and

comfort might be revolted by the dark crannies and gloomy cellars in

which she had to seek her work. But as for being _useless_, that was

indeed an idle fear any where for any body who wished to work.

She listened attentively, and began to purr in a more decided manner.

"Still," said she, "I am afraid they will miss me here."

"No doubt," I replied; "but their loss can be remedied. A house like

this can be kept in order by a very inferior cat to yourself; and after

all, you are cherished here chiefly because it was Lily's wish. Peggy

can easily find another kitten; and you know she has often said that

white cats were not to her taste, and she should much prefer a tabby."

"True, true," murmured Puss; and seeing that she was gradually

softening, I continued to place every inducement before her in the

strongest light. I represented the present unguarded state of the sugar,

candles, preserves, &c., in a manner to touch the feelings of any

domestic cat, and dwelt at some length on the improvement that must take

place in the house under her vigilant superintendence. And I finally

crowned my persuasions with the tenderest appeal to her affection for

me, drawing a vivid picture of the difference to me and to my happiness

that would result from her companionship. Pussy had for some time been

wavering, and before I had finished my harangue she purred a full

consent.

I need not describe my delight at thus gaining the great object of my

life. Some feelings should not be made public property. My happiness was

not of a nature to be boisterous, but it was such as to satisfy Pussy

that she had decided aright.

At break of day we began our grand adventure, as we were anxious to lose

no time; and we had been so well fed over-night, that we could defy

hunger for the next twenty-four hours. When I had set out on my

solitary journey, I had felt very easy about my accommodations and mode

of travelling; but now that I had my less hardy companion, many cares

crowded on my mind, and I pondered so profoundly over every arrangement,

that Puss seemed the most cheerful and courageous of the two. Indeed,

from the moment she agreed to my request, she generously gave to the

winds all her former objections, and thought of nothing but helping me,

and giving as little trouble as possible herself.

We passed through our native village quietly. All curious observers had

visited us the night before; and our friendship was so well known, that

the sight of us together attracted no notice beyond a few kind words;

but on emerging into the great world of the London road, we were obliged

to hold a consultation upon our proceedings. Though our object was the

same, our views of the best means of attaining it did not quite agree;

Pussy's idea being to avoid fighting, mine to be prepared for it.

Doubtless a combination of both principles was our true policy.

We reconnoitred our route. Fields on each side were divided from the

road by hedges, and there was a raised path between the hedge and the

road. We decided that I should run along the open path, looking out for

every danger, while Pussy, as much out of sight as possible, crept

along the field on the other side of the hedge. Though this arrangement

separated us, it was by far the safest; the thick green hedge hid the

cat from observation, and there were plenty of gaps through which we

could take an opportunity of peeping at each other, unmarked by any one

else. Moreover, the fields had attractions for Pussy besides mere

security; she could catch birds and field-mice, and thus secure a

comfortable meal at any moment.

In this manner we proceeded pleasantly for many miles; I trotting

steadily onwards, and Puss creeping behind the hedge at her usual

stealthy pace. When prudence permitted, we enlivened our journey by

various agreeable diversions. Sometimes on coming to a paling or a wall,

Puss jumped up with her usual activity, and ran along the top.

Occasionally we made a halt, while she climbed a pleasant tree, and I

reposed on the grass under its shade. Or she would rest on a sunny bank,

while I amused myself by watching any passing carriages and horses in

the road. Once or twice we left the beaten path in search of water, but

we were careful not to wander far out of our way.

In going through one village, we observed some trellis-work on the gable

end of a house, affording facilities of ascent quite irresistible to a

cat of spirit. Puss was on the perpendicular wall in an instant,

climbing hand over hand, or rather paw over paw, till she reached the

roof. There she revelled in her favourite exaltation, and enjoyed

herself thoroughly in darting over the slates, and making excursions up

and down the chimney stacks. As there were several houses adjoining, she

had the opportunity of a considerable promenade along the gutters, very

satisfactory till she came to the end of the row; but there,

unfortunately, she found no means of coming down again. There was no

trellis; and a blank wall, without a single projection to afford a

footing, was beyond even her dexterity. There was nothing to be done but

to retrace her steps, I meanwhile running along the footpath, and

looking up with some anxiety.

But we were not obliged to go back very far. The middle house was an

inn, with a sign-post before it, from which hung a picture of a red lion

rampant,--an ugly beast, and far from royal. I thought I would have

shaken him to pieces if he had been alive, but under present

circumstances I was very glad to see him. Puss sprang from the roof to

the cross-beam which supported him, and from thence easily scrambled

down his post to the ground. Very glad I was to have her at my side

again, and to make our way through the village unmolested.

[Illustration: THE JOURNEY TO LONDON. Page 84]

All these freaks had rather hindered us, as people cannot go out of

their way for amusement without wasting more time than they reckon upon;

and I now urged Puss to resist such temptations, and to keep up a steady

walk on her side of the hedge. Not being able to climb myself, I had no

sympathy with her great love of the art; and, in fact, I had sometimes

considered her power of ascending heights, and finding footing in places

inaccessible to me, as a fault in her character. But as I did not wish

to be ill-natured and disagreeable, I indulged her taste, though

believing it to be useless, if not dangerous, and often persuading her

to keep to the beaten path in every thing.

But I thought myself wiser than I was, and I had to learn by experience

that every different nature and endowment may have its peculiar

advantages. Before we were out of sight of that village, the very talent

which I had despised was the means of saving Pussy's life.

The hedgerow, which had hitherto been our safeguard and screen from

impertinent observation, had come to an end; the fields were separated

from the road only by an open ditch, and young trees enclosed in palings

were planted at regular intervals along the path. We were trotting

leisurely, thinking of no mischief, when at a turn in the road there

suddenly darted out upon us a fierce and powerful mastiff. To leap the

ditch and be at Pussy's side was the work of a moment both for him and

for me, though with very different intentions; he to assail, I to defend

her. The attack was so sudden, that Puss had not time to use her weapons

to any purpose; she just managed to give one spirited claw at his nose

with a loud hiss, and then sprang faster and higher than I had ever seen

her spring before, and gained the top of the paling just in time to

escape his seizure. If she had not been able to jump, she would have

been a dead cat. Even then she was not quite out of his reach, and he

flew after her; but I threw myself upon him while she bounded to the

little tree, and climbed its branches till she gained a place of safety.

Then the mastiff and I had a battle royal. The very recollection of it

at this day does me good. We were all in the highest state of

excitement. Puss in the tree, her back showing high above her ears, and

her tail swelled to the size of a fox's brush, puffing and spitting at

her enemy like a snake or a steam-engine; the mastiff running round the

paling on his hind legs, banging up against it on every side, and

barking and howling with rage; I, no less furious, howling and barking

at him in return, and galloping round the tree as wildly as he did.

Determined to try every thing, he turned to dash round the other way,

and we came full upon each other. I need not describe the consequences.

"Greek" may "meet Greek," and I leave the result to the learned; but if

any body had ever doubted whether when dog meets dog, "then comes the

tug of war," now was the time to convince themselves. We certainly did

tug at each other most decidedly. Our strength and courage were so

nearly equal, that for some time the victory was doubtful. Again and

again each hero, bitten, scratched, and bruised, rolled in the dust, and

rose up again shaking ears and coat, ready to rush upon his adversary

with undiminished spirit. The final issue seemed to depend entirely upon

the power of holding out longest. As I scorn to boast, I candidly

confess that I was many times ready to ask for quarter and own myself

beaten: indeed, if I had only been fighting on my own account, I must

have yielded; but the goodness of my cause supported me, and in defence

of my friend I performed exploits of valour that I did not know to be in

my nature. At last I had the satisfaction to see my enemy fairly turn

round, and with drooping head, and tail between his legs, sneak off to

his own home in a very different state of mind and body from that in

which he left it. I sent after him a bark of triumph that made the woods

re-echo; but my best reward was in my Pussy's thanks and praises, and

the happy consciousness of being her successful champion.

I required a little rest after my exertions; but before long we were on

the move again, and met with no further impediments till we arrived at

our resting-place for the night. This was under the shelter of an empty

barn, rather infested by rats, so that Puss found both food and lodging.

Tastes differ: I was glad of a comfortable roof and a warm corner; but

though Puss pressed me to partake of her provision, I preferred going

without a meal for once in my life to sharing a rat.

We were up and dressed time enough for the rising sun to meet us on our

road. I have few more "incidents of travel" to recount; indeed, beyond a

little difficulty in crossing a puddle or two without wetting my

comrade's feet, or dirtying her white stockings, we arrived at the

outskirts of London without hindrance.

But I feared that it would not be so easy to creep unobserved through

the busy streets, and I grew very uncomfortable when I found myself and

my companion in the midst of the throng. I was anxious to conceal my

fears from Puss, lest I should alarm her also; but her penetration saw

through my forced cheerfulness, and obliged me to confess my

apprehensions. True to her determination of making the best of every

thing, she was more courageous than I. With her usual good sense, she

pointed out to me that the greater the surrounding numbers, the better

the chance of any individuals passing unnoticed; that it was the idle

who hindered or molested others; and that this multitude of people,

intent upon objects of their own, would have neither time nor

inclination to annoy us.

"I know by experience, my dear Captain," continued she, "that when I am

properly occupied with my own rats, I have no temptation to interfere

with my neighbour's mice. It is when I have been sitting too long

purring in the sunshine with nothing to do, that I am in danger of being

mischievous or troublesome."

"True," I answered; "I can bear witness to that myself: and I am not

afraid of the industrious people, if they noticed us, it would be

kindly. But these are not _all_ busy,--some may be at leisure to worry

us; and I scarcely know how we are to pass unobserved; I fear we are

very remarkable. At home you know how much was said about us."

"Yes, _at home_," she replied, with a significant curl of her whiskers,

"but at home we stood alone; there was no one to compare us with. I

fancy that many are thought great personages in their own little

village, who would be quite unnoticed elsewhere. I hope that may be our

case."

"You _hope_!" exclaimed I, almost with a bark; for in spite of my fears,

I by no means admired Pussy's modest style of consolation. Mortification

got the better of prudence, and I felt that I would rather fight every

day and all day long than not be thought worth fighting with.

"I hope it for myself," she answered; "but I do not expect you to be of

the same opinion. I am content to shun danger and avoid blame; but it is

your nature to meet peril and to court praise."

"You are rather inconsistent," interrupted I, somewhat nettled: "one of

your objections to coming with me was, that you thought you could be of

no use in London; and now you are wishing to be altogether unnoticed."

"I do not see any contradiction," she replied; "one may be useful

without being conspicuous. If I can fill my own little post quietly, so

as to please you and my master, I am content that no one else should

even know of my existence. My climbing exploits are only for my own

pleasure, as you know. I have no ambition."

"Such a life would not satisfy me at all," I answered.

"So much the better," said Puss; "there would be few great things done

in the world if no one were more energetic or daring than I. It is a

capital thing that there should be such as you, able and willing to

defend the weak, and to stand up for the right without fear of

consequences. It is your proper part, and I am truly grateful to you for

acting it so nobly as you did yesterday."

This view of the matter soothed my feelings; and for the present, at any

rate, I was glad that Pussy's retiring disposition should have its way.

The more she crept through by-ways and slunk into corners, the better I

was pleased, for I was too fond of her to wish to see her in danger for

the sake of my own honour and glory.

So with care and caution we went on our way, taking every means to avoid

not only dogs and boys, but even older and wiser beings; and at last,

under lamp-posts and door-posts, through kennels and gutters, now

creeping along the ledge of a wall, now hiding under the shelter of a

friendly porch, always watching each other at every step we took, we

arrived at our own door.

All necessity for caution being now happily at an end, I indulged myself

in a bark loud enough to rouse the house, though too joyous to alarm it.

Presently our good friend John appeared in the area, talking to himself

while going about his work. We heard him say in a hesitating manner, "I

could not help almost fancying that I heard my poor Captain's bark; but

I know it is nothing but my folly, always thinking of him. He's been and

got himself stolen by some of those London dog-stealers. _I_ shall never

see him again, poor fellow."

I barked again. John looked up, and there I stood, only too happy to be

able to contradict him. Extraordinary, that knowing me as he did, he

should have thought me capable of deserting my best friends and letting

myself be enticed away by a dog-stealer! I hoped I had more sense than

that.

John said not another word, but rushed up stairs and threw the

street-door wide open. In my rapture at meeting him I forgot all

ceremony; and standing bolt upright on my hind-legs, with my fore-paws

on his shoulders, I licked his face all over. But he was too glad to see

me to take offence at my familiarity, and patted my head and returned my

caresses with cordiality equal to my own.

At first he did not see my little fellow-traveller, who, in her modest

reluctance to be intrusive, held back during the rough greetings between

John and me. But in proper time she felt it due to herself to come

forward and assert her presence; so, setting her tail bolt upright like

a standard, she began pacing softly backwards and forwards, purring

affectionately, and rubbing herself against John's legs at every turn.

"Well, Pussy," said John, as he stooped to stroke her head, "it would

take a good many human creatures to surprise me as much as you two dumb

animals have done. But come in. Come, Captain, my boy; come, little

Puss."

So saying, he ushered us across the hall to our master's study, and

tapped at the door.

"Come in," called our master.

John opened the door, and stood there without speaking a word, while

Puss and I walked forwards to our master's chair, she purring and I

wagging my tail as usual, expecting him to say something civil, but not

prepared for astonishment in our wise master. I thought we had left all

that sort of thing behind with Peggy. But my master looked up and down,

at John and us, us and John again, several times in silence. At last he

said, "It is the most extraordinary thing I ever saw. How and when did

they come?"

"Not five minutes ago, sir," answered John; "both together, as you see;

and to judge from their dusty look, they must have walked all the way."

"No doubt," replied my master. "On what day did we miss the dog?"

"Four days ago, sir, after I told you how he was moping. He must have

found his way all alone to the Manor, and brought the other back with

him. It beats every thing that ever _I_ heard."

"He must, indeed. Wonderful!" said my master.

"To be sure I did," thought I. "Where is the wonder?"

But as we were very hungry, we left John and our master to express their

surprise to each other, while we turned our steps towards the kitchen.

Even there, before we got any dinner, we were doomed to encounter a

sharp fire of exclamations from the servants; and really such incessant

expressions of amazement began to be almost mortifying. Approbation is

pleasant enough, but astonishment gives the idea that people had not

thought one capable of even one's own little good deeds. However, we

bore it all with good humour, and were soon caressed and fed to our

complete satisfaction.

The rest of our story may be told in a few words. Puss was soon

domesticated on her London hearth, and pursuing her avocations with her

customary skill and spirit. She was a universal favourite, though just

at first she had to endure a little gossip about her history and

appearance; some pronouncing her to be very pretty, others seeing

nothing particular in her worth so much trouble. But in due time her

reputation was firmly established as the prettiest cat and the best

mouser in the neighbourhood.

While she made herself useful in her department, I was not idle in mine;

and I think I may safely say that no house could boast of a more

faithful and vigilant guardian. It was difficult to determine which of

us was most useful to our master; Puss in preserving his property from

"rats and mice and such small deer," or I, in keeping off larger

depredators. Our joint business was to take care of the house, and

thorough care we took, and thoroughly were our services appreciated and

rewarded. Welcome guests on kitchen hearthstone or on drawing-room rug,

treated as pets by the servants, as friends by our master, and agreeable

company by his acquaintances, no animals have ever passed a happier

life. Lily has often been to see us; and next to the pleasure of being

once more caressed by her own hand, was that of hearing our story told

to her husband by her own lips, and our friendship mentioned with

approbation to her little son.

* * * * *

It may seem absurd to suppose that a human being can profit by the

history of a dog; but I believe that no creature is too insignificant,

and no event too trivial, to teach some lesson to those capable of

learning it; and a moral to this little story may be found in the

advantage of making the best of untoward circumstances, and of

cultivating kindness and goodwill in place of prejudice and dislike. In

short, to any, small or great, who have hitherto found or fancied their

companions uncongenial, I would propose Puss and Captain as an example

of a new and better method of

"LIVING LIKE CAT AND DOG."