room with me, are now restless. They have 

 been playing together, and twice the little 

 fellow has picked a quarrel with his gigantic 

 friend, has flown at him, caught him by the lip, 

 and hung angrily suspended there. Each time 

 the Dane has with infinite patience and gentle- 

 ness freed himself from his impish tormentor. 

 Now they have concentrated upon me. Duke 

 is insinuating his nose under my arm ; Soo-ti 

 is scratching my leg with his absurd fore- 

 paws. " Come out," they say ; " come out 

 into the open air." Well, well, let us go, then, 

 and enjoy the day while there is yet time. 



III. THE FRIENDLY DUCKLING 

 I PLACE the story of the duckling here 

 because there is something curiously dog-like 

 about it. As to the precise origin of this duck- 

 ling I am a little vague, but I incline to think 

 that it was one of four or five who found on 

 shaking off their shell that they had obtained 

 a hen as a mother and a poultry yard as a 

 nursery. I seem to remember that we first 



28 



