as Splash saw his little master and mistress he came rushing toward them
as fast as he could.

"Don't let him jump on me and get my dress muddy!" cried Sue. "He's been
in the mud just awful!"

"So he has," said Bunny Brown. "Down, Splash! Down!" he called, as the
dog neared Sue. Splash made all the signs he knew to show how glad he
was to see Bunny and Sue, but he did not get up on his hind legs and put
his paws on Sue's shoulders, as he sometimes did.

"Oh, Splash, you're awful dirty!" cried Sue. "You must run in the brook,
where the water is clean, and where there are white pebbly stones
instead of mud on the bottom, to wash yourself. You've got to go in too,
Dix."

Dix barked "bow-wow," to show he did not mind, I suppose.

"Go on in, Splash!" cried Bunny, snapping his fingers and pointing at
the brook. "Go in and wash!"

But though the Browns' dog was usually ready for a frolic in the water
he did not seem to be so just now. He ran back and forth, down to the
edge of the stream and back again, getting his paws wet, but nothing
else.

"Oh, you must go in and have your bath if you are to come with us!"
cried Sue. "Go on in, Splash!"

But not even for Sue would Splash go in, until finally Bunny cried: