BRUNO 65 



me in his usual manner to open the door for 

 him. This was the way he asked. He rested 

 his head on my knee until I looked up from 

 my book. Then his tail began to wag, and he 

 glanced quickly from me to the door, then 

 back at me again. I asked, 



" Boonie want to go ? ' 



At this his tail wagged faster than ever, and 

 he went to the door and stood waiting. Julius 

 got up and opened the door for him ; standing 

 for a few moments after Bruno had disappeared 

 in the darkness, looking at the stars and listen- 

 ing to that sweet sound the pine-needles make 

 when the wind blows through them. 



The night was rather cool, and it was not 

 long before we both began to feel sleepy. 

 Bruno had not returned ; so Julius went to the 

 door, whistling and calling to him. 



But there was no answer. 



We waited a little while ; then Julius said : 



"He will probably be here by the time we 

 are ready to put out the lamp ; so let 's to bed." 



I felt troubled. It reminded me of the old 

 days in Bruno's giddy youth when he was off 

 jheep-chasing. As I brushed out my hair, I 

 was turning over in my mind all those vague 

 fears I had felt when I had formerly dreamed 



5 



