278 THE FAT OF THE LAND 
beauties of the beasts and of the pleasure she 
would have in owning one, that I grew enthusi- 
astic as well, and quite made up my mind that 
she should not be disappointed. When the 
letter came, there was suppressed excitement 
until she had read it, and then excitement un- 
suppressed. 
« Dad, we can have Alexis, son of Katinka by 
Peter the Great, for $125! See what the letter 
says: ‘Eleven months old, tall and strong in 
quarters, white, with even lemon markings, 
better head than Marksman, and a sure winner 
in the best of company.’ Isn’t that great ? 
And I don’t think $125 is much, do you?” 
«“ Not for a horse or a house, dear, but for a 
dog?! 
«But you know, Dad, this isn’t a common 
dog. We mustn’t think of it as a dog; it’s a 
barzoi; that isn’t too much for a barzoi, is it ?” 
“Not for a barzoi, or a yacht either; I guess 
you will have to have one or the other.” 
« The Seabright man says he has a girl dog 
by Marksman out of Katrina that is the very 
picture of Alexis, only not so large, and he will 
sell both to the same person for $200; they are 
such good friends.” 
“ Break away, daughter, do you want a steam 
launch with your yacht?” 
«But just think, Dad, only $75 for this one. 
You save $50, don’t you see?” 
«Dimly, I must confess, as through a glass 
