COMMUTER'S WIFE 7 



Presently Bluff ceased his gyrations, and stood 

 watching me, paw raised, tail rigid, quite at a point, 

 while the maid was speaking ; then as I turned to go 

 down the hall, he gave one indescribable cry, so full 

 was it of human expression, made a bound, touched 

 the tip of my nose lightly with his tongue, then ran 

 to a hook beside the tall clock, across whose face the 

 full moon had sailed rhythmically for a hundred years, 

 without ever waning, seized a dusty riding whip that 

 hung there, my old whip, dragged it down, and 

 laid it at my feet, while he backed toward the door, 

 his eyes fixed on mine in a very delirium of joy. 



Yes, Bluff knew me ! It was two years since he 

 had brought me the whip as the regular prelude to a 

 walk, two years since he had heard my voice : many 

 humans forget in that time. Bluff knew me, and 

 was welcoming me home not as a stranger, but as 

 one of his familiar world. Something tightened in 

 my throat. I stooped to hug the old faithful, but he 

 whirled about, and scampered toward the door. I 

 picked up the whip and followed. Outside a mild 

 gray twilight, mingled with the light of the quarter 

 moon, pictured everything with soft outlines. As 

 Bluff leaped down the steps, a pair of j uncos flew 

 from their perch in the honeysuckles, but soon set- 

 tled to rest again. 



