6 BRUNO 



and tail, we turned, demoralized and dejected, to 

 wend our way homeward, I mentally congratu- 

 lating myself that the streets were deserted. I 

 shuddered to think of the probable consequences 

 if it had happened after school hours when the 

 small boy was abroad. 



So far we had managed to prevent a meeting 

 between Bruno and Rebecca. 



Bruno was to us such an uncertain quantity 

 that we feared the result of their first glimpse 

 of each other. So the box containing Rebecca's 

 kittens had been kept out in the stable, and her 

 food carried out to her to prevent the dreaded 

 meeting. I wearied of the daily forced marches 

 stable-ward, though, and longed to have them 

 within reach. So, one evening after Julius 

 came home from the office, we, in fear and 

 trembling, brought in the box, and mounted 

 guard to watch developments. 



Bruno looked curious, sniffed, and then drew 

 nearer. I sat down on the floor to be ready 

 to defend them, while Julius stood behind 

 Bruno. 



As soon as he spied the kits, his ears rose and 

 he was all alert. Then gradually he seemed to 

 realize, from our way of proceeding, that they 

 were not fair game. His ears drooped forward, 



