158 Little Byron 



mistress always treated htm with harshness. His 

 nature was so buoyant and cheerful that he would 

 have been happy with even a few words or acts of 

 kindness; but they were never given him. He 

 would gladly have surrendered the active life for 

 which he was fitted for the quiet life he was com- 

 pelled to lead, had kindness been coupled with it, 

 but it was not. The only time he ever heard the 

 gentler tones of the human voice was when company 

 was present. Then he was spoken to kindly, and 

 caressed with the greatest apparent affection. 



One day he ventured to follow Mrs. Merton 

 into the hall, where she was saying some parting 

 words to her visitors. She spoke gently to him, 

 lifted him in her arms and stroked his silky hair, 

 while chatting with her friends. The act and the 

 posing made a pretty effect, which she well under- 

 stood. The last words were said, the door swung 

 on its noiseless hinges, and she was alone, when, 

 without a word, the same hand which had just 

 pressed so gently the palms of her friends fell in 

 anger upon the head of the helpless dog, carrying 



