up his accomplishment.'

Alwyn's legs, arms, and voice, were all excitement and entreaty; and
Mr. Egremont himself proposed that they should all come and witness the
feat; so Nuttie, in great glee, climbed the stairs with her little
brother to get ready; and when she came down again, found the gentlemen
deep, not in Mark Egremont's umbrellas, but in the gas and smoke
grievances which had arisen since the lease of the house had been
taken, and in which sympathy might be expected from a fellow-inhabitant
of the district. Little Alwyn was, however, plainly the lord of the
ascendant, and unused to see anything else attended to in his presence.
He took possession of Mr. Dutton's hand, and his tongue went fast, nor
did his father or sister seem to desire any better music. They reached
an old-walled garden, with lilac and laburnum and horse-chestnut
blossoming above, and showing a mass of greenery through the iron
railing that surmounted, the low wall on the street side, where Mr.
Dutton halted and took out his key.

'Is this yours?' exclaimed Nuttie, 'I have so often wondered whose it
could be.'

'Yes, it was a country-house when I was of the age of this little man,
though you might not think it.'

'The increase of London had not been on that side,' said Mr. Egremont.
'This must be a very valuable property!'

And Nuttie perceived that such an inheritance made Mr. Dutton much more
in his eyes than an ex-umbrella-monger; but no sooner was the tall iron
gate opened than Monsieur, beautifully shaved, with all his curly tufts
in perfection, came bounding to meet his master, and Alwyn had his arms
round the neck in a moment. Monsieur had in his time been introduced
to too many children not to understand the situation, and respond
politely; and he also recognised Ursula, and gave unmistakable proofs
of being glad to see her.

Then the halfpenny was presented to him. He wagged his queer tail,
smiled with his intelligent brown eyes, took it between his teeth, and
trotted across the street in the most business-like way, the others
following, but detaining the boy from keeping too close. They found the
creature sitting upright, tapping the floor with his tail, the centre
of rapturous admiration to all the customers already in the dairy shop.
He received his bun, and demurely dropping on his front legs, walked
back with it to his master, and crossed the road with it uneaten,
rather to Alwyn's disappointment, but Mr. Dutton sa