t, if I had been he, I would have had many a fight with
intruders, to whom he was not only civil himself, but compelled me to be
so too. I have often observed that it appears proper for human beings to
observe a kind of respect even towards persons they dislike; a line of
conduct which _brutes_ cannot understand.

However, I was not without my own methods of showing my sentiments. If I
felt indifferent or contemptuous towards a person entering the room, I
merely opened one eye and yawned at him. If he attempted any
compliments, calling me "Good Captain," "Fine Dog," and trying to pat
me, I shook off his hand, and rising from my rug, turned once round, and
curling my tail under me, sank down again to my repose without taking
any further notice of him. But occasionally my master admitted visitors
whom I considered as such highly improper acquaintances for him, that I
could scarcely restrain my indignation. I knew I must not bite them,
though, in my own opinion, it would have been by far the best thing to
do; I did not dare so much as to bark at them, for my master objected
even to that expression of feeling: but I could not resist receiving
them with low growls; during their visit I never took my eyes off them
for a moment, and I made a point of following them to the door, and
seeing them safe off the premises. Others, on the contrary, I regarded
with the highest confidence and esteem. Their visits gave almost as much
pleasure to me as to my master, and I took pains to show my friendship
by every means in my power; leaving the fireside to meet them, wagging
my tail, shaking a paw with them the moment I was asked, and sitting
with my nose resting on their lap.

But I took no unwelcome liberties; for I was gifted with a particular
power of discriminating between those who really liked me, and those who
only tolerated me out of politeness. Upon the latter I never willingly
intruded, though I have been sometimes obliged to submit to a
hypocritical pat bestowed on me for the sake of my young mistress; but a
real friend of dogs I recognised at a glance, whether lady or gentleman,
so that I could safely place my paw in the whitest hand, or rest my
head against the gayest dress, without fear of a repulse.

The person I loved best in the world was my master; or rather, I should
say, he was the person for whom I had the highest respect. My love was
bestowed in at least an equal degree upon my young mistress, his
daughter Lily, in