OUR DOGS. 119 



IV. 



A FTER Prince Giglio deserted us and proved so faith- 

 ^*- less, we were for a while determined not to have 

 another pet. They were all good for nothing, all alike 

 ungrateful ; we forswore the whole race of dogs. But the 

 next winter we went to live in the beautiful city of Flor- 

 ence, in Italy, and there, in spite of all our protestations, 

 our hearts were again ensnared. 



You must know that in the neighborhood of Florence 

 is a celebrated villa, owned by a Russian nobleman, Prince 

 Demidoff, and that among other fine things that are to 

 be found there are a very nice breed of King Charles 

 spaniels, which are called Demidoffs, after the place. One 

 of these, a pretty little creature, was presented to us by a 

 kind lady, and our resolution against having any more pets 

 all melted away in view of the soft, beseeching eyes, the 

 fine, silky ears, the glossy, wavy hair, and bright chest- 

 nut paws of the new favorite. She was exactly such a 

 pretty creature as one sees painted in some of the splen- 

 did old Italian pictures, and which Mr. Ruskin describes as 

 belonging to the race of " fringy paws." The little creature 

 was warmly received among us ; an ottoman was set apart 

 for her to lie on ; and a bright bow of green, red, and 

 white ribbon, the Italian colors, was prepared for her neck ; 

 and she was christened Florence, after her native city. 



