t hastily.

"Ain't he the livin' image of Jim?" she demanded in a voice of
wondering admiration. "Did ever you see the likes of it, father?"

Under the pretence of examining him more critically, Joe took the
child into his own arms, and looked at him with ardent eyes. "Yes,"
said he, "the Kid does favour Jim, more'n his--" But he checked
himself at the word. "An' he's a regular little man too!" he went on.
"Come all the way up on the cars by himself, an' wasn't a mite o'
trouble, the conductor said."

Utterly engrossed in the little one, neither Joe nor his wife gave a
look or a thought to Sonny, who was leaping upon them joyously. For
years he had been almost the one centre of attention for the childless
couple, who had treated him as a child, caressing him, spoiling him,
and teaching him to feel his devotion necessary to them. Now, finding
himself quite ignored, he quieted down all at once and stood for a few
seconds gazing reproachfully at the scene. The intimacy with Joe and
Ann which he had so long enjoyed had developed almost a human quality
in his intelligence and his feelings. Plainly, now, he was forgotten.
His master and mistress had withdrawn their love and were pouring it
out upon this stranger child. His ears and stub tail drooping in
misery, he turned away, walked sorrowfully over to the horse, and
sniffed at the latter's nose as if to beg for some explanation of
what had happened. But the old sorrel, pleasantly occupied in cropping
at the short, sweet grass behind the well, had neither explanation nor
sympathy to offer. Sonny went off to his kennel, a place he scorned to
notice, as a rule, because the best in the house had hitherto been
held none too good for him. Creeping in with a beaten air, he lay down
with his nose on his paws in the doorway, and tried to understand what
had come upon him. One thing only was quite clear to him. It was all
the fault of the child with the yellow curls.

Sonny had had no experience with children. The few he had met he had
regarded with that impersonal benevolence which was his attitude
toward all humanity. His formidable appearance had saved him from
finding out that humanity could be cruel and brutal. So now, in his
unhappiness, he had no jealous anger. He simply wanted to keep away
from this small being who had caused his hurt.

But even this grace was not to be allowed him. By the time Joe Barnes
and Ann, both trying to hold the little one in their arms at the s