86 BRUNO 



Dawn looked in at me before I fell asleep; 

 then I knew nothing until aroused by Bruno's 

 barks, to find that some one was rapping on the 

 front door. 



After hastily putting on a dressing-gown, I 

 investigated through a crack made by holding 

 the door slightly ajar, and found that the same 

 kind friends had sent to see how I had spent 

 the night. I gave a glowing account of our 

 comfort and security, for my morning nap had 

 thoroughly rested and refreshed me; then I 

 hastened to prepare some breakfast for Bruno, 

 meanwhile letting him out for a run in the lot. 



After the small household duties were at- 

 tended to, I had sat down to finish some souve- 

 nirs I was painting for one of the shops, when 

 I heard a great din and clatter outside. t Bruno, 

 who was sitting beside me, gravely watching 

 my work, while now and then he gave a dis- 

 gusted snort as he got a good whiff of the tur- 

 pentine I was using to thin my paints, started 

 up, barking and bounding towards the closed 

 door. I sprang to open it, and was met on the 

 very threshold by a trembling, half-grown deer. 

 The gate was open, showing how it had entered, 

 and there, hesitating at the sight of Bruno and 

 me, was a motley crowd of boys and dogs. I 



