COMMUTER'S WIFE 119 



fee, a cereal, hot toast, and eggs " a 1'infinity " can 

 be as well gathered together in half an hour as in 

 half a day. You see, a country doctor's daughter has a 

 good chance to learn the ways of ministering to the 

 physical needs of a man who must always be well fed, 

 though often not lengthily. 



The bacon and eggs had scarcely disappeared and 

 father had begged a third cup of coffee in honour of 

 my birthday, when there was a vigorous scratching 

 at the back door. I had been wondering all the 

 time what had become of the dogs, who usually were 

 the first to take their places either under the table 

 or beside the chairs of their favourites. 



I could hear Tim outside, admonishing them and 

 evidently trying to chide them into order, which was 

 instantly departed from the moment the door opened. 

 They entered like rockets with a flash of colour. 

 Lark, Pat, and the hounds ran to me with every 

 symptom of joy, Bluff alone crawling under the 

 table with an evident desire to hide. Each dog had 

 a red ribbon tied around his neck, from which hung 

 a large pasteboard heart, bearing a birthday greet- 

 ing and a quotation, something of the penny valen- 

 tine order, appropriate to, if somewhat derisive of, 

 gardening. 



One by one, much to the relief of the dogs, I 



