96 A Sportswoman in India 



fork, and in eating only took as much as he could hold 

 with the thumb, fore, and middle finger. He slept on 

 a little bed of his own, covering himself up in an orderly 

 manner. He would offer people his arm and walk 

 with them. He dearly loved General M.'s little niece, 

 and would run to meet her when she came into the 

 room, embrace and kiss her, take her hand and lead 

 her to a sofa, where they would play most happily. 

 But supposing that strange children came into the room 

 and began to romp, Bobby would bite their legs, shake 

 them, seize their jackets, and box their ears, seeming 

 to think he was merely joining in their fun and noise. 



When General M. was writing, Bobby would often 

 seize a pen, dip it in the ink, and scrawl across sheet 

 after sheet of paper. He was fond of cleaning the 

 windows ; it was amusing to see him squeeze up the 

 cloth, breathe hard upon the pane, and then rub it 

 vigorously, passing quickly from one place to another. 

 He took tea and cocoa in the morning and evening, 

 and a mixed diet in between meals, such as fruit, sweet- 

 meats, red wine and water, and sugar. To keep him 

 out of mischief he lived, when the General was busy, in 

 a cage ; on one occasion he stole the key, which was 

 hanging on the wall, and hid it in his little coat-pocket. 

 Later in the day his master put him back into the cage 

 and closed the door, which locked itself. Directly 

 General M. was out of sight, Bobby unlocked his door 

 and walked out. He knew how to use a gimlet ; he 

 would wring out wet clothes ; he blew his nose with a 

 handkerchief. 



