rite
another. Let me tell you what I read between the lines here. Miss
Grath having died, you were left alone in the world. Her two amiable
sisters coming to the farm, probably made your loneliness intensified,
and whilst depressed by your mood, your dog showed you some affection,
which reaching you when your heart was full, caused it to spill over,
and this was the result. Am I wrong?"

"No! You have guessed the circumstances almost exactly. As you say, I
was feeling lonely and depressed. I came here for solitude, which is
something different from loneliness, and which is as soothing as
loneliness is depressing. I was sitting under that tree, thinking
bitter things of the world in general, and of the people about me more
especially, when without my having heard him approach, my dog, Lossy,
dear old brute, pushed his head over my shoulders, placed his paws
around my neck, and kissed me. It affected me deeply. It was as though
I had received a message from Providence, telling me not to despair.
Then like a flash it came to me, that if love is an attribute of the
soul, and a dog's love is the most unselfish of all, it must follow
logically that a dog has a soul."

"Your deduction is correct, if there be any such thing as soul. But,
for the moment, I will not take that up. You have told enough to show
that I am right as to the origin of your tale. It is also evident that
you cannot hope to be under such emotional excitement at all times,
when you might be called upon to write; to write or go without a meal.
However, I have faith in you, and do not doubt that we shall find a
way for you to earn as many meals as you shall need."

"Do you mean that you will assist me?"

"I will assist you, if I am correct in my present opinion of you.
Young men who need and expect assistance, are rarely worthy of help.
But I wish to talk about your essay. I like the line 'Was it murder to
kill a dog?' and the one which follows, 'For only a dog I was; or may
I say, I am?' Of course the word murder, strictly applied, means the
killing of a man by his fellow. I think I comprehend what you mean
here, but I would like you to explain it to me."

"Doctor, you compliment me by taking this so seriously. There is a
deeper meaning in the words than might be detected by a superficial
reader. As you say, the word murder applies only to the killing of a
man, by a man. Or I might change the wording and say, the killing of a
human being. Here, human im