t the Doctor. It was
surely a pretty picture. The lad had not hesitated to cast himself
against the rude pricks of Fate, but the recollection of his dog made
him tremble.

"Lossy will be brought here this afternoon," said the Doctor. "I have
already sent my man down to get him out of his box, and bring him.
What do you wish me to do about him?"

"Oh, Doctor," exclaimed the boy, appealingly, "if you would only keep
my dog! You were kind enough to buy him for me. But now--now--unless
you will keep him awhile--why--why--" Here he broke down utterly and
ceased to speak, while a tear-drop in each eye glistened in the
sunlight which crossed his handsome features, illuminated by the love
that welled up from his heart; love for this dumb beast that had been
his friend for so long a time.

"I will keep Lossy for you, Leon," began the Doctor, but he was
interrupted by Leon, who grasped his hand impulsively, crying:

"Heaven bless you, Doctor!"

"But, I will keep you, also, my boy," continued the Doctor, tightening
his grasp of Leon's hand, so that he could not get away.

"No! No!" cried the lad.

"Yes! Yes!" said the Doctor. "Now come back into the house and let me
explain myself." Half forcibly he drew the youth after him, and they
returned to the room where they had first been. Then the Doctor
resumed:

"Leon, did you suppose that I meant to let you go away? That I would
bring you so far and then abandon you to your own resources? Never for
one instant did I harbor such a thought. But when you spoke as you
did, I determined to try you; to see whether you were speaking in
earnest, or for effect. Therefore I seemed to acquiesce. Therefore I
let you go without even offering you some money, or telling you to
come back to me if in distress. My boy, you stood the trial nobly. I
was proud of you as you walked down the path, and I was about to
follow you when I saw you pause and turn back. For an instant I feared
that you had wavered, but I was more than gratified that it was to
plead for the dog, and not for yourself that you returned."

"But Doctor, how can I remain?" asked the lad, helplessly, for already
he began to feel the necessity of submitting to the domination of this
man, as so many others had experienced.

"How can you remain? Why, simply by doing so. You mean, what will my
wife think? She will think just what I wish her to think. It is a
habit of hers to do so." Here he laughed significantly. "But you need
no