VI

TRUCULENCE

Clematis frowned and sneezed as the infinitesimal particles of sachet
powder settled in the lining of his nose. He became serious, and was
conscious of a growing feeling of dislike; he began to be upset over the
whole matter. But his conscience compelled him to persist in his
attempt to solve the mystery; and also he remembered that one should
be courteous, no matter what some other thing chooses to be. Hence he
sought to place his nose in contact with Flopit's, for he had perceived
on the front of the mysterious stranger a buttony something which might
possibly be a nose.

Flopit evaded the contact. He felt that he had endured about enough
from this Apache, and that it was nearly time to destroy him. Having no
experience of battle, save with bedroom slippers and lace handkerchiefs,
Flopit had little doubt of his powers as a warrior. Betrayed by his
majestic self-importance, he had not the remotest idea that he was
small. Usually he saw the world from a window, or from the seat of an
automobile, or over his mistress's arm. He looked down on all dogs,
thought them ruffianly, despised them; and it is the miraculous truth
that not only was he unaware that he was small, but he did not even know
that he was a dog, himself. He did not think about himself in that way.

From these various ignorances of his sprang his astonishing, his
incredible, valor. Clematis, with head lowered close to Flopit's,