ue; I must not complain of giving her up to
_him_."

Although I could not make out her history very accurately; but on
discussing it with Puss, and putting together everything that we heard
my master say in the garden, and John say in the kitchen, we came to the
conclusion that Lily was gone to live at some distance in a home of her
own; that Craven's good elder brother was her companion there; and that
her papa was much pleased with the arrangement, though he lost her
company. It seemed an odd affair to Pussy and me, and we purred and
pondered over it. Puss confessed that she could not understand a
person's leaving the house in which she was born. My views were larger.
I could imagine being contented in any place, provided my friends were
there too; but the separation from friends seemed an unnatural
proceeding. However, John had distinctly said that her papa was very
much pleased; so we decided that human beings were gifted with greater
powers than ourselves of bearing change, and making themselves happy and
useful under a variety of circumstances. For we had no doubt of Lily's
being happy and useful wherever she might be. I could as soon have
fancied myself encouraging my thieves, or Puss neglecting her mice, as
Lily idle or out of spirits.

In the course of the next day, John brought the carriage to the door
again, and invited me to take a drive. Much flattered, I scrambled to
the box, and sat by his side as steadily as I could, though the movement
of the carriage was not much to my taste. Several times I could not
resist trying to get down and run by the side; but John scolded me and
held me fast, only indulging me with an occasional scamper when we were
going up hill.

I had not omitted a good-humoured bark to Pussy when we started, by way
of farewell; for she came to see us off, though she was too humble to
expect an invitation to join the party. I fully supposed that we should
return in an hour or two, and that I should have the pleasure of telling
her my morning's adventures. But we travelled up hill and down hill,
through strange villages and an unknown country, and still we went on
and on, without any symptoms of turning.

In time we stopped at an inn, where my master had his dinner; and I went
with John to the stables, and saw him feed the horses, and then followed
him to the kitchen, where he too ate his dinner, and gave some to me.
Then we set off on our journey again. Now I thought we were surely goin