86 A CURIOUS ILLUSTRATION 



summer droughts old and feeble beasts are always 

 getting stuck and perishing in the muddy water- 

 holes, enables me to make these nice distinctions. 

 It is the dog smell, and I find it even in the petted 

 lap-dog, fed delicately and washed and brushed 

 regularly every day by his attendants. 



Here I will give a personal experience which 

 illustrates the different way in which the sense of 

 smell affects us, according to our way of life, pre- 

 dilections, and so forth. I went to visit a venerable 

 lady of my acquaintance at her country house, and 

 was told she was laid up with an attack of bronchitis, 

 but wished to see me, and I was taken to her room 

 accordingly and found her in bed, propped up with 

 pillows and breathing with difficulty. Her two 

 favourite dogs, black or dark-grey haired shaggy 

 terriers, were lying on the eiderdown quilt at her 

 feet. Doors and windows were closed, and though 

 it was a large room, the peculiar dog smell described 

 a few lines back was strong enough to make it 

 exceedingly uncomfortable. But she, I knew, was 

 unconscious of it, and I did not venture to suggest 

 the advisability of opening a window lest, coming 

 from me — one, to her thinking, so ignorant and 

 prejudiced as to regard dogs as unclean animals 

 — it should appear like a reflection on her pets. Then 

 the housekeeper came in to consult her about some 

 household matter. She was a stout, or perhaps fat, 

 sonsie little woman with a bright smiling face, and 

 in the light muslin dress she wore looked delightfully 

 cool and fresh — almost flowery. She remained about 



