WRONG AND UNCERTAIN ANSWERS 



IF Lola is tired she will either not work at all, 

 or at most work badly, which is but natural ! 

 Yet there is another and even more frequent 

 reason than fatigue for her indifferent work. The dog 

 may to all appearances be bright and fresh leading 

 me to expect the very best results, and yet with 

 everything seemingly in her favour, she may that day 

 be an utter failure. This is particularly unpleasant if 

 on one of these occasions visitors happen to be present, 

 and more especially should there be sceptics among 

 them. For this failure to respond where the subject 

 happens to be one in which she has repeatedly given 

 brilliant proofs of what she really can do, is embarrass- 

 ing and humiliating, for then those who are only too 

 ready to scoff merely feel their case strengthened. 

 Indeed, it needs some determination to keep one's 

 temper on such occasions, yet to " let oneself go " 

 even for one moment would mean weeks of painful 

 and laborious uphill work in order to regain the dog's 

 confidence. One is often entirely at a loss as to the 

 reason of this " inward withstanding," which may 

 even elude long and careful investigation. Now and 

 again the answers may not be forthcoming when one 

 is alone with her, and behold ! a stranger enters the 

 room, and she becomes all friendly eagerness to do her 

 best : then again, the exact reverse of this may be the 



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