SOBAPPEK 101 



" If no one owns it, I shall take it home, Mrs. Hopkins. 

 Look at the poor little raite, all dust and blood," and she set 

 to work on the ragged little mite with a lace handkerchief just 

 a size larger than a postage stamp. 



" Ere's yer ma coming, Miss Ethel. 'Er Ladyship'll wonder 

 what you've got there." 



" What made you run away from Downer's, Ethel ? I told 

 you I would call for you when you had done your shopping. 

 And what on earth have you been doing, and just look 

 what a state you are in ? " Then Miss Ethel was aware that a 

 carriage and pair had drawn up beside her, and that her 

 mother, Lady Adelaide Lawson, was eyeing her through her 

 long-handled glasses with an expression of horror. 



" Oh, mamma, just look at the poor little thing ! I heard a 

 noise when I was buying that wool at Downer's, and when I 

 looked out I saw a horrid lot of boys and dogs chasing this 

 poor little doggie, and I was only just in time to rescue it." 



" But what an ugly dog it is. You can let it go now they 

 have all gone, so make haste and get into the carriage ; we 

 shall be late for lunch." 



" Oh, no, mamma. I'm going to keep it. They would be 

 after it again directly we were gone." 



" Keep it, certainly not ! What should we want with an 

 ugly thing like that ? Come, let him go. Well, give him to 

 Mrs. Hopkins ; perhaps she would like a dog ? " 



" Not for worlds, yer Ladyship. I've got a large family, 

 and they're trouble and bother enough Avithout a dog." 



" I will keep it, mamma ! " with a petulant stamp of the 

 dainty brown shoes ; " and if I may not have him in the 

 carriage with me I shall walk home and carry him." 



" Oh, for goodness sake keep the little beast, then. But 

 we need not take that kettle home with us ; you can leave 

 that, I suppose. Here, get in, child, and don't let the dirty 

 little thing come near me; it's full of fleas, I'm certain. 



