FOXES AND SNOW-SHOES 211 



"• Tliey inakc! a gift to yon of tlie Coon to be your 

 ami, your friend, to take a la viaison^ to your 'ouse," 

 explained Toinette. 



The boys were delighted, of course. " jNIammy Bun 

 will think we have brought her an old friend; but Tm 

 not sure Avhat your mother and the dogs Avill say," said 

 the Doctor in an undertone. 



***** 



The journey home passed like a flash, and six o'clock 

 saw Rap seated by the stove in his mother's little 

 kitclien chattering of all the wonders of the trip, end- 

 ing by telling her that her mink muff had once killed 

 chickens, while she listened as eagerly as if he had 

 made a voyage round the Avorld. 



]\Iean while the Doctor decided that the Coon was to 

 go in the barn, and not be introduced to the family 

 until next day. Dodo was l)eing entertained by Nat, 

 and Avas so interested that she almost forgot to eat her 

 supper, ancL afterward coaxed her uncle into bringing 

 the portfolio of pictures into tlie wonder room, that 

 she might look at all the Foxes and other little fur 

 bearers. But when she came to the picture of the Por- 

 cupine and heard its story, she gave a little shiver and 

 exclaimed, " I'm glad now I stayed at home, for if I iiad 

 seen liim in the dark, I should have jumped up and 

 screamed, and then you wouldn't have heard liim sing, 

 and most likely lie would liave stuck me so full of 

 prickles that I couldn't sew my Christmas presents ! " 



