SOME OF OUR PETS. 39 



he would always take extra care of me whenever, 



during T 's journeys about the country, I was left 



at home alone. Then the faithful old fellow would not 

 leave me for an instant. The silent sympathy with 

 which he thrust his nose lovingly into my hand cheered 



the dreary moment when, after watching T out of 



sight, I turned to walk back to the lonely house ; and 

 his quiet unobtrusive presence enlivened all the weeks 

 of solitude. He would lie at my feet as I sat working 

 or writing ; follow me from room to room or out of 

 doors, always close at my heels ; and curl himself up to 

 sleep under my bed, when at any time during the night 

 the slightest word or movement on my part would 

 produce a responsive " tap, tap," of his tail upon the 

 floor. And when his master returned, he always 

 seemed to look to him for approbation ; his whole 

 manner expressing his pride in the good care he had 

 taken of house and mistress. 



Our garden at Walmer was constantly invaded by 

 neighbouring fowls and ducks, which would lie in wait 

 outside, ready to slip in the instant the little gate was 

 left open ; the fowls of course found plenty of occupa- 

 tion among the flowers ; while the ducks would at once 

 make for a large tub, generally full of photographic 

 prints taking their final bath under a tap of slowly- 

 trickling water. The horrid birds seemed to take a 

 delight in driving their clumsy bills through the soft, 

 sodden paper ; and after several prints from our best 

 negatives had been destroyed, we summoned Toto to 

 our aid. He threw himself with great energy into the 



