BILLY AND HANS 



his spirits), his hind legs became par- 

 tially paralysed. He now ran with 

 difficulty ; but his eyes were as bright 

 and his intelligence was as quick as 

 ever, and his fore feet were as dexter- 

 ous. His attachment to me increased 

 as the malady progressed, and though 

 from habit he always scolded a little 

 when my wife approached him, he 

 showed a great deal of affection for 

 her toward the end, which was clearly 

 approaching. Vacation had come 

 again, and I took him once more with 

 me to the Black Forest, hoping that 

 his mysterious intelligence might find 

 some consolation in his native air.' 



I On my way north I stopped at Zurich, 

 and at the restaurant, one day, when he was 

 on the bench which served as seat for the 

 common table, a strange lady came in and 

 sat at the other end of it, when Hans went 

 off to make acquaintance with her, as if she 

 4« 



