"Halloa," he shouted across the room, "let's 

 have the duckling out and play with it." 

 % "Right," said the elder, and he put his 

 hand under the bedclothes. 

 % There was a pause. "What's the matter?" 

 called the younger. "Can't you find it?" 

 % "Oh, Fred," said the elder, "it's dead, poor 

 little beggar. I must have been lying on it 

 in my sleep. What shall we do about it?" 

 k There was nothing to be done. The duck- 

 ling had died of mere excess of kindness and 

 affection. 



IV. THE PURRERS 



% WHY should the cat so often be praised 

 with an apology, and why, when the dog is 

 in question, should he be exalted at the ex- 

 pense of the cat? I protest I do not under- 

 stand this habit of mind. There is, for in- 

 stance, M. Maeterlinck. In the midst of his 

 delightful and touching story of his little dog 

 Pelleas "tant d'ardeur a aimer, de courage 

 a comprendre, tant de joie affectueuse, tant 

 35 



