ered a
subdued interrogation under his breath. The next thing was no bark, but
a shriek of joy from Yarrow, such as could mean nothing in the world but
"Philip!" or Pippo, which was what no doubt the dogs called him between
following their mistress. Urisk heard and understood. He made but one
spring from the footstool on which he lay and flung himself against the
door. Mrs. Dennistoun sat for a moment and listened, much disturbed.
When some troublous incident occurs in the deep quiet of domestic life
how often is it followed by another, and her heart turned a little sick.
She was not comforted even by the fact that Urisk was waggling not his
tail only, but his whole little form in convulsions of joy, barking,
crying aloud for the door to open, to let him forth. By this time all
the friendly dogs about had taken up the sound out of sympathy with
Yarrow's yells of delight--and into this came the clang of the gate,
the sound of wheels, an outcry in a human voice, that of Barbara, the
maid--and then a young shout that rang through the air--"Where's my
mother, Barbara, where's granny?" Philip, it may be imagined, did not
wait for any answer, but came in headlong. Yarrow leaping after him,
Urisk springing into the air to meet him--himself in too great a hurry
to heed either, flinging himself upon the astonished lady who rose to
meet him, with a sudden kiss, and a "Where's my mother, granny?" of
eager greeting.

"Pippo! Good gracious, boy, what's brought you home now?"

"Nothing but good news," he said, "so good I thought I must come. I've
got it, granny: where _is_ my mother----"

"You've got it?" she said, so full of other thoughts that she could not
recollect what it was he meant. Pippo thought, as Elinor sometimes
thought, that his granny was getting slow of understanding--not so
bright as she used to be in her mind.

"Oh, granny, you've been dozing: the scholarship! I've got it--I thought
you would know the moment you heard me at the door----"

"My dear boy," she said, putting her arms about him, while the tall boy
stood for the homage done to him--the kiss of congratulation. "You have
got the scholarship! notwithstanding Howard and Musgrave and the hard
fight there was to be----"

Pippo nodded, with a bright face of pleasure. "But," he said--"I can't
say I'm sorry I've got it, granny--but I wish there had been another for
Musgrave: for he worked harder than I did, and he wanted so to win. But
so did I, for that ma