108 BRUNO 



CHAPTER XVII 



IN looking back at that winter, most of its 

 evenings seem to have been spent before the 

 open fire, the room lighted only by its blaze. 



Sometimes Little Blossom lay across my 

 knees, the firelight mirrored in her thoughtful 

 eyes, her pink toes curling and uncurling to the 

 heat. Sometimes she lay cradled in Julius's 

 arms, while he crooned old ditties remembered 

 from his own childhood. 



Bruno never seemed to tire of studying this 

 new-comer to our home circle. He would stand 

 with ears drooped forward, watching me bathe 

 and dress her, so absorbed in contemplation 

 that he would start when I spoke, as if he had 

 forgotten my existence. 



He had always before seemed intensely jeal- 

 ous when Julius or I had noticed children, but 

 with Little Blossom it was different ; he seemed 

 to share our feelings, she was our baby. 



At first he showed a disposition to play with 

 her as he had long ago romped with Rebecca's 



