Little Byron 155 



mansion, where he was to be the pet of a lady of 

 fashion. 



Mrs. Forsythe Merton was a widow, and a 

 woman of social ambitions. In this respect, at least, 

 she was on a par with many others. She possessed 

 the wealth, but not the ability, to become a social 

 queen. Naturally, then, she became an imitator. 

 Certain prominent people, in imitation of European 

 potentates, put silver chains and monograms on their 

 harness. Mrs. Merton covered her harness with 

 silver, and her monogram could be recognized across 

 the street. Several lonely childless women in the 

 upper circles had adopted dogs to relieve their loneli- 

 ness. Mrs. Merton, although she was not lonely, as 

 she possessed a grown-up daughter, felt that she too 

 required a dog. But while the ladies whom Mrs. 

 Merton imitated had possessed dogs designed prima- 

 rily for pets, Mrs. Merton purchased one fitted for 

 life and animation, not for sleep and laziness. Yet 

 she had not discernment enough to discover her 

 mistake. 



Mrs. Merton named her dog Byron. It pleased 



