ill, and she took back the threepence."

"Dear! and what did the dog do then,--snarl or bite?" "Not so; he knew
he was in his rights, and did not lower himself by showing bad temper.
The dog looked quietly round, saw a basket which contained two or three
pounds of candles lying in a corner for the shop boy to take to some
customer; took up the basket in his mouth, and turned tail, as much as
to say, 'Tit for tat then.' He understood, you see, what is called 'the
law of reprisals.' 'Come back this moment,' cried Mrs. Traill. The
dog walked out of the shop; then she ran after him, and counted the
fourpence before him, on which he dropped the basket, picked up the
right change, and went off demurely. 'To whom does that poodle belong?'
said I. 'To a poor drunken man,' said Mrs. Traill; 'I wish it was in
better hands.' 'So do I, ma'am,' answered I; 'did he teach it?' 'No, it
was taught by his brother, who was an old soldier, and died in his house
two weeks ago. It knows a great many tricks, and is quite young. It
might make a fortune as a show, sir.' So I was thinking. I inquired the
owner's address, called on him, and found him disposed to sell the dog.
But he asked L3, a sum that seemed out of the question then. Still I
kept the dog in my eye; called every day to make friends with it, and
ascertain its capacities. And at last, thanks to you, Sophy, I bought
the dog; and what is more, as soon as I had two golden sovereigns to
show, I got him for that sum, and we have still L1. left (besides
small savings from our lost salaries) to go to the completion of his
education, and the advertisement of his merits. I kept this a secret
from Merle,--from all. I would not even let the drunken owner know where
I took the dog to yesterday. I brought him here, where, I learned in
the village, there were two rooms to let, locked him up, and my story is
told."

"But why keep it such a secret?"

"Because I don't want Rugge to trace us. He might do one a mischief;
because I have a grand project of genteel position and high prices for
the exhibition of that dog. And why should it be known where we come
from, or what we were? And because, if the owner knew where to find the
dog, he might decoy it back from us. Luckily he had not made the dog so
fond of him but what, unless it be decoyed, it will accustom itself to
us. And now I propose that we should stay a week or so here, and devote
ourselves exclusively to developing the native powers of t