246 DOG STORIES 



and before a few steps which led up into my 

 bedroom, and was busy perched on a step- 

 ladder with the after-portion of it. By and 

 by I heard a great scratching at my bedroom 

 door, which was closed, and Sprig whining 

 to get in. I thought this odd, but it was too 

 much trouble to come down from my perch, 

 and I told him to go away. He, however, 

 only whined and scratched the more. I 

 therefore descended, and getting behind the 

 picture, went up the steps and opened the 

 door. Sprig did not notice me, but pushing 

 past me hurried down the steps, and then, as 

 I emerged into the room, looked up to me 

 blandly, and actually sat down in the place 

 in which I had put him the day before. I 

 said to him gravely, though infinitely amused, 

 " No, Sprig, I don't want you to-day ; look, 

 the colour is all wet, go away to your 

 mistress." He looked very blank and 

 greatly disappointed, and stood up with his 

 tail drooped. Suddenly a bright thought 

 seemed to strike him, as if he had said, 

 " Now I have it ! " Whisky had got hold 

 of one of my slippers, and was playing with 



