BRUXO. 75 



would bear a great deal from her, giving however now 

 and then a low deep growl ; but when provoked too 

 much, he would quietly lift the dog off the ground by 

 the strength of his jaws, (his teeth were gone) stayed 

 with her in his mouth at the door until it was opened, 

 and then deposit her, half strangled as she was, in a 

 nettle bed some distance from the house. The dog's 

 discrimination was curious. If Vixen was thrown upon 

 him, or if we forced her to insult him, he never punished 

 her ; bvit if she of her own accord teased him more 

 than his patience could bear, the punishment was cer- 

 tain to follow. O'Toole and his dogs always occupied 

 the same room, the terriers being on the bed with their 

 master. Xo entreaty, however, induced Bruno to sleep 

 on an3i:hing softer than stone. He would remove the 

 hearthrug and lie on the marble. His master used to 

 instance the dog's disdain of luxury as a mark of his noble 

 nature. I should not omit to tell you that O'Toole 

 was proud, and never would submit to be called ^ Mr.' 

 Meeting one day Lord Arne, in Dame Street, Dublin, 

 when the old man was followed by his three dogs, of 

 which Bruno was the last, the young nobleman, who 

 had also his followers in the shape of ' Parliament- 

 men,' said to the descendant of Irish kings, nodding 

 to him familiarly at the same time, ' How do you do, 

 Mr. O'Toole ? ' The old man paused, drew himself up, 

 lifted his hat, made his courtly bow, and answered, 

 ' O'Toole salutes Arne.' I can recall to mind nothing 

 more picturesque than that majestic old gentleman and 

 his dogs, both remnants of a bygone age. Bruno was 

 rough, but not long coated ; very grave, observant, en- 

 during every one ; very fond of children, playing with 

 them gently, but only crouching and fawning on his 



G 2 



