Patricia

anches of an old apple-tree. Below her, on the grass, lay a small, cu

ulia needn't have been so inhospitable. Why didn't I wait until Daddy got home! Daddy'

u and I'd better go down to the back meadow to talk

e long grass, Patricia set herself to the

rambles, accompanied by this most forlorn of all forlorn dogs, expl

t he didn't seem to belong to anybody, and she thought sh

r, was the only dog they had now, and he was too old to play much, Miss Kirby had prov

what was in reality several meals condensed int

lia won't look at things in a proper light. I'm afraid she hurt your feelings. Aunt Julia generally mean

d contented as if he had been everything he wasn't, sat up suddenly, w

ia is so fond of-about 'Handsome is as handsome does'-shouldn't apply to dogs as well as people. All the same, you are a very mixed numbery sort of a dog: you've got one and three-quarters ears, three and

oberly, wagging his abbreviat

"and it's up to me to find you one. But I think you'

e reappeared with a cake of antiseptic soap, a box of salve, a roll of bandage, a pair of scissors, and a bath-towel; wit

r, if not wiser-lay shivering on the sunny bank, while Patricia

elessly tangled knots of curls cut away. After which, Patr

isn't exactly the changey kind. I wonder if you'd like it at the Millers'? They've got a lot of children, but the

as to feel dry once more, merely roll

, you see, it's so necessary to make a good first impression! I reckon it was the first impression that made all

ight-hearted and irresponsible as the other; though behind Patricia lay more than

ed with soft, fleecy white clouds, and with enough breeze stirring

rds hopping lightly about from fence to fence had a holiday air-and to Patricia there was something very

to gather a spray of wild roses just above her

un on his back felt exceedingly good; he began to entertain hop

he curve," Patricia told him. And as it was the on

added. "It's funny there aren't any child

pushed back her sunbonnet, the better to survey the child.

Maybe I left it in the meadow; I'm not

ildren and the dogs've all gone off picnicking,"

I came to bring you a-presen

ller rushed by her, with a shrie

n the middle of the cloth Mrs. Miller's present was rolling and twisting his damp,

d reach him, and with one corner of the cl

chievous, good-for-nothing little scamp? He doesn't belong about here! Ten to on

cloth was rescued. "Is it hurt ver

y, and the whole cloth was covered with grass-stains and dirt. "You can se

n it's folded up in the drawer." She stooped to lay a restraining hand on the wrongdoer, who already had an eye on various

Mrs Miller declared, warmly. "If he don't get started mi

self up. "I-I thi

after her, "what was that about a

send him. I brought you

uisance! Well,

was some distance up the road did she turn to

n, Dog! It wasn't my fault this time.

aw. His whole dejected little body ex

all, you would have liked it at the Millers'. I'm

take the intention into consideration-and I don't suppose you intended to be bad. It's dreadfully easy to be bad, without intending to. I cer

xious to decide upon any "next place." Sitting there in Patricia's lap, in the sh

on't know Miss Jane. She's awfully nice. She and her sister haven't any dog but they'

ey came to the little white house. Patricia thought it very lonely looking, but perhaps her companion might think otherwi

on one of the gate-posts, was the

a small, curly dog, whose three legs seemed quite as effective as most dogs' four. While down the path from the house came Miss Jane and Miss Susan, also stout,

orrid dog with you," Miss Jane command

. "I'm not 'little girl

Kir-by! Up

at morning, between water and dust was a sight to behold. She bore very little resemblance to the Patri

ming up. The cat had retired to the shelter of a tall tree, from a branch of wh

hy, I came on purpose to bring

Jane

Aunt Julia-Aunt Julia seemed to think one dog was enough. I don't think Aunt Ju

ould hide the persuasive charm

ted, wavered; but Miss Susan shook her head resolut

ere that way sometimes; even Sarah had her mome

explained. She felt grateful t

in Miss Susan's tone. "Do you know of any one who

he Millers'," Mi

re for him," Patricia answered, hurried

rdinarily so inhospitable, but the minister was coming to supper that ev

te fence seemed suddenly very long and sunny. She w

d, kindly, "come round to the kitchen an

ore. As the three neared it now, Miss Susan darted forward, with very much t

n-table was a small black dog, just finishing the content

Susan wailed, "and the m

cking his chops contentedly. It almo

inish licking his chops. Truly, it was a red-letter day for him. He wagged affably at

ve given him nearly enough breakfast." Then she brightened. "After all, Miss Susan,

t in the least appeal to the

do was to take her charge away as quickly as possible. A

e gate, "you're not behaving at all well! Tearing table-cloths, ch

disapproval in Patricia's voice

very bad?" Pa

sured her

dstill. She couldn't take her protégé home; even less could she desert him. She sat down by the roadside to consi

icia stretched out her tired little legs; at the present moment that particular form of punishment did n

y he should be obliged to punish her. Patricia fanned herself with

patted her companion, curled up on the folds of her sh

hinking of a poor, forlorn little animal who had until that

usly, "if Mr. Carr wouldn't like

where, in his little cabin,

, and he paused, needle in a

erate; she went straight

r his spectacles he surveyed the pair. Patricia's gray eyes had lost their co

ere's no denying a dog's compa

very young. Maybe, I'd better tell you everything." And sitting down on one end of the workbench, Pat

ially as to the custard-that there

. I've called

e for dinner," Carr remarked. "How about Custard? It'd keep his sin afore him."

a reached home. Sarah was upstairs

p the back way to her own room. Aunt Julia had said it must b

hen Miss Kirby, having learned from certain unmistakab

expressing almost as much relief as

estlessly. "I've

becoming the dominant note in Miss Kirby's voice now that Patricia

dn't have to send me. I've had a most fatiguing day; and I'm dreadfully afraid th

ankly stated a quite undeniable fact; and she had no desire to put the matter to

alk part, this time. I'm very tired; finding a home for a dog takes it out of you a lot. People 'round here don't seem very anxious to have dogs. And-

tricia had a fashion of exciting sympathy at the wrong time, in a way that was perilou

oss her path! A sent-to-bed bed-supper meant simply bread and milk. Patricia wondered if Dr. Vail would mind about not having custard as much as she did about not

ound. Patricia knew how he was running about now, looking for her. She hoped Sarah would forget and leave the screen d

e pantry had not been very satisfactory. If Custard had felt that way she didn't much blame him for eating up

as bringing up

bread and milk appeared hig

ied. Patricia stared at the generous square of strawberry sho

me message 'bout this 'ere cake, Miss P'tricia; but, law o' mercy, I'se clean for

, taking little anticipatory pickin

Where's you-un been all day, Miss

and tired-I won't go into that at present.

'straction-the doctor, he ain't come home to dinner-to hear 'bout your

and milk. "It must be dreadful to be

your dinner,

e any," Patri

speech failed Sara

cepted solemnly his share of the good things going, then stretched himself out on the floor beside the bed, to mount guard-but not until he had told her as

always sure that her dumb friends understood quite

t, Patricia," Dr. Kirby said, as he came i

ming hand. "It's hours and hou

our aunt's account, there would appear to have been h

, Daddy; but I came home just as so

e me the particu

detail the story of her day's experiences. She had the comforting convi

's mouth twitched under his mustache, and he tu

ished, "what made it so imperative f

re very earnest. "Some

cannot have you burdening yourself with the responsibility of

and so really nice-inside. I don't

h Patricia. "Still, dear, it must not happen again; you run too gre

be mighty hard

e are my scissors,

the towel. I was glad I'd watched

dle with any of the office things again without permissio

You-you'll 'take the intentio

ake into consideration the fact that this is by no means the first time

will worry so. I alwa

ust be only the yard for the

she said, slowly, "I am glad it's Thu

d, rubbing her eyes.

r hurrying to the window. On the path below, a bit o

in her lap, busily placing a fresh bandage on the hurt paw. "Daddy," she cried, lifting her face for hi

hen stooped to examine Patricia's work. "

ke a strip from a piece I found in Aunt

our dress is only half buttoned, and your hair is-Pat

how glad he was to see me! I suppose he'll have to be sent back. C?sar likes him

will do any good," the doctor said.

gently. "I can't take him-I can't

dedly

ith you, Patrick?" Miss Kirby felt

in the opposi

d J

ctor was still studyin

y we are doomed!" M

rah, doesn't it, Aunt Julia?

id Sarah is out of the question," she said; "and if he

Dropping Custard, she ran to hug Miss Kirby. "Oh, you darling! But, Daddy

able to bear the disappoint