FROM THE '< SPECTA TOR." 73 



the fire. I entered the room with my hat 

 on, and invited her to join me in a walk ; 

 but, after looking up at me for a moment, 

 as canine politeness required, she dropped 

 back among her cushions, obviously replying, 

 " Thank you very much, but I prefer repose." 

 Thereupon I observed, in a clear voice, " I 

 am not going on the road [a promenade dis- 

 liked by the dogs, because the walls on either 

 side restrict the spirit of scientific research] ; 

 I am going up the mountain." Instantly 

 my little friend jumped up, shook her ears, 

 and, with a cheerful bark, announced herself 

 as ready to join the party. 



Beyond doubt or question, Colleen had 

 either understood the word "road," or the 

 word " mountain," or both, and determined 

 her proceedings accordingly. Nothing in my 

 action showed, or could show, the meaning 

 of my words. 



If any of your readers who have resided 

 for some weeks or months in a country where 

 a language is spoken entirely foreign to their 

 own say, Arabic, or Basque, or Welsh 

 will recall of how many words they insensibly 



