"I fear I shall take a chill if I remain in this damp place. Come boys. Mary Ellen, kindly reverse the chair!"
The tall lady rose to her feet.
"Oh, please, come in and have something hot, and tell me all about it. And there's the reward."
"I thank you," replied Mrs. Handsomebody, "I shall not venture to leave my chair. As for the dog, it came to us several weeks ago, when I was ill; hence the delay in returning it—and its young."
"Your grandchildren?" questioned the tall lady abruptly.
"My pupils, and, for the present, my wards," replied Mrs. Handsomebody frigidly.
"Wish I could steal them," said the lady. "If I'd dogs and boys too, I'd be happy. These are darlings." She turned to us then. "Boys, do you like Giftie very much?"
"Oh, we love her," we chorused.
"Would you like one of her puppies for your very own to keep?"
Would we? We couldn't speak for longing.
Mrs. Handsomebody spoke for us.
"I allow no pets, canine or otherwise."
The tall lady scowled. "But these are valuable dogs."
"All dogs are alike to me. Canines."
[124]
