SOME OF OUR PETS. 37 



white frill ; of which latter he is justly proud, drawing 

 himself up to show it off to the best advantage when- 

 ever it ia stroked or admired. Altogether he is a very 

 vain dog, quite conscious of his good looks. His big, 

 honest, loving brown eyes have none of that sly, shifty 

 look which gives a treacherous appearance to so many 

 collies ; his face, which is as good and kind as it is 

 pretty, has a great range of expression, and it is 

 wonderful to see how instantly it will change from a 

 benevolent smile, or even a downright laugh, to a 

 pathetic, deeply injured, or scornful look, if Toto 

 considers himself slighted or insulted. We have to 

 study his feelings carefully, for he is proud and sensi- 

 tive even beyond the usual nature of collies; and if 

 we have been unfortunate enough to offend him — 

 as often as not quite unintentionally — he will give us 

 the cut direct for several days ; repelling all advances 

 with the most freezing indifference, and plainly, 

 though always politely, for he is a thorough gentle- 

 man, intimating his wish to drop our acquaintance. 



Sometimes we are puzzled to know why Toto is 

 haughty and distant towards us, or ignores our 

 existence; and, on looking back, recall perhaps that 

 so long ago as the day before yesterday one of us, 

 in the hurry of daily work, finding his large form 

 obstructing the door through which we had to pass, 

 told him, somewhat impatiently, to get out of the way. 



Or perhaps — worse still — we may have laughed at 

 him. Possibly the mouse he was chasing on the veldt 

 popped into the safety of a hole just as he had all but 



