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DOGS. 113 



on my shoulder, and was so much distressed that I 

 (tarried him away immediately. On the following day 

 he accompanied me up-stairs ; and when I passed my 

 mother's door he looked up in my face, as much as to say, 

 4 Are you going in there?' but I replied 'No!' and he 

 never again asked for entrance. The coffin was soldered 

 down, and removed from the bed-room to the dining- 

 room ; and thus had to pass the drawing-room, where 

 all the family were assembled. On ordinary occasions, 

 Peter was furious at the sound of strange footsteps in 

 the house, and even barked loudly when any one knocked 

 or rang at the street door. On this occasion, however, 

 he suffered the men employed to pass and repass fre- 

 quently, without making the slightest noise ; but that he 

 was conscious of some unusual occurrence was evident 

 from his jumping into my arms, where, as the coffin was 

 brought down, he sat with ears erect and eyes fixed, 

 and panted and trembled in the most agitated manner 

 till all was quiet. As long as the body remained in the 

 house, he took every opportunity of walking round it 

 and lying under it ; and when it was removed at five 

 o'clock one morning, to begin its journey to the family 

 vault, he was again much agitated, but never offered to 

 bark. On the following day, I and others started to 

 attend the funeral at a considerable distance, and my 

 daughters were to arrive at eight o'clock, to pass the 

 day in the house of their deceased grandmother. I took 

 leave of Peter, placed him on a mat in the hall, and said, 

 ' Stay there till the girls come.' He laid himself down, 

 and the servants assured me he never moved till the 

 parties arrived, when he met them with subdued looks, 

 and closely attached himself to them as long as they 

 were present. I returned two hours after midnight; 

 IT 



