FROM THE "SPECTATOR." 247 



it in my bedroom, and Sprig, rushing up the 

 steps, seized her by the "scruff" of her neck, 

 dragged her howling down the steps, and put 

 her, I can use no other words, into the place 

 where she had been the day before. He 

 then came to me frisking about, and could 

 he but have spoken, would have said, "If 

 you don't want me, you must her, and there 

 she is ! " He was quite triumphant about it; 

 and dirty as I was, and palette in hand, I 

 took him forthwith to the drawing-room and 

 told them what had happened. 



I could tell numberless other stories of the 

 reasoning power and intelligence of our little 

 pet, but I should trespass at too great length 

 on your patience. I could describe a curious 

 friendship which sprang up between him and 

 a German friend who was staying some time 

 with us ; how he learned many new tricks 

 from him, and was taught to hop on his hind 

 legs from one end of the drawing-room to 

 the other, with our friend hopping backwards 

 before him ; I could describe his evening 

 romps with my dear father, never omitted 

 while my father lived ; and the many curious 



