ng unwarrantably attacked.

As it was, Michael's unusual behaviour seemed to fascinate her. She
approached him tentatively, without further racket; and the boy who had
her in charge slacked the thin chain that held her.

"Hope he breaks her back for her," was his unholy wish; for he hated Sara
intensely, desiring to be with the lions or elephants rather than dancing
attendance on a cantankerous female monkey there was no reasoning with.

And because Michael took no notice of her, she made up to him. It was
not long before she had her hands on him, and, quickly after that, an arm
around his neck and her head snuggled against his. Then began her
interminable tale. Day after day, catching him at odd times in the ring,
she would cling closely to him and in a low voice, running on and on,
never pausing for breath, tell him, for all he knew, the story of her
life. At any rate, it sounded like the story of her woes and of all the
indignities which had been wreaked upon her. It was one long complaint,
and some of it might have been about her health, for she sniffed and
coughed a great deal and her chest seemed always to hurt her from the way
she had of continually and gingerly pressing the palm of her hand to it.
Sometimes, however, she would cease her complaining, and love and mother
him, uttering occasional series of gentle mellow sounds that were like
croonings.

Hers was the only hand of affection that was laid on him at Cedarwild,
and she was ever gentle, never pinching him, never pulling his ears. By
the same token, he was the only friend she had; and he came to look
forward to meeting her in the course of the morning work--and this,
despite that every meeting always concluded in a scene, when she fought
with her keeper against being taken away. Her cries and protests would
give way to whimperings and wailings, while the men about laughed at the
strangeness of the love-affair between her and the Irish terrier.

But Harris Collins tolerated, even encouraged, their friendship.

"The two sour-balls get along best together," he said. "And it does them
good. Gives them something to live for, and that way lies health. But
some day, mark my words, she'll turn on him and give him what for, and
their friendship will get a terrible smash."

And half of it he spoke with the voice of prophecy, and, though she never
turned on Michael, the day in the world was written when their friendship
would truly receive a terribl