happy little spaniel, and now retreating, in order
to be pursued upon the greensward in her turn. All at once, at the sight
of a second person, who advanced with deliberate gravity, Georgette
and Frisky were suddenly stopped in their diversion. The little King
Charles, some steps in advance of Georgette, faithful to her name,
and bold as the devil, held herself firmly upon her nervous paws, and
fiercely awaited the coming up of the enemy, displaying at the same time
rows of little teeth, which, though of ivory, were none the less pointed
and sharp. The enemy consisted of a woman of mature age, accompanied by
a very fat dog, of the color of coffee and milk; his tail was twisted
like a corkscrew; he was pot-bellied; his skin was sleek; his neck was
turned little to one side; he walked with his legs inordinately spread
out, and stepped with the air of a doctor. His black muzzle, quarrelsome
and scowling showed two fangs sallying forth, and turning up from the
left side of the mouth, and altogether he had an expression singularly
forbidding and vindictive. This disagreeable animal, a perfect type of
what might be called a "church-goer's pug," answered to the name of "My
Lord." His mistress, a woman of about fifty years of age, corpulent and
of middle size, was dressed in a costume as gloomy and severe as that of
Georgette was gay and showy. It consisted of a brown robe, a black silk
mantle, and a hat of the same dye. The features of this woman might
have been agreeable in her youth; and her florid cheeks, her correct
eyebrows, her black eyes, which were still very lively, scarcely
accorded with the peevish and austere physiognomy which she tried to
assume. This matron, of slow and discreet gait, was Madame Augustine
Grivois, first woman to the Princess Saint-Dizier. Not only did the age,
the face, and the dress of these two women present a striking contrast;
but the contrast extended itself even to the animals which attended
them. There were similar differences between Frisky and My Lord, as
between Georgette and Mrs. Grivois. When the latter perceived the
little King Charles, she could not restrain a movement of surprise
and repugnance, which escaped not the notice of the young lady's maid.
Frisky, who had not retreated one inch, since the apparition of My
Lord, regarded him valiantly, with a look of defiance, and even advanced
towards him with an air so decidedly hostile, that the cur, though
thrice as big as the little Kin