though! And you're beautifuler than ever. Isn't she, Miss?" he
demanded, turning to the Mistress with instinctive knowledge that
here at least he would find confirmation. "Indeed she is!" the
Mistress assured him.

"And see how glad she is to be with you again! She--"

"And Dad says she can stay with me, for keeps!" exulted Dick. "He
says he'll put a new lock on the cellar door, so she can't ever
push out again, the way she did, last time. But I guess she's had
her lesson in going out for walks at night and not being able to
find her way back. She and I are going to have the dandiest times
together, that ever happened. Aren't we, Lass? Is that her little
boy?" he broke off, in eager curiosity, as the Master appeared
from the kennels, carrying Bruce.

The puppy was set down on the veranda floor for Dick's
inspection.

"He's cunning, isn't he? Kind of like a Teddy Bear,--the sort
kids play with. But," with a tinge of worry, "I'm not sure Ma
will let me keep two. Maybe--"

"Perhaps," suggested the Mistress, "perhaps you'd like us to keep
little Bruce, to remember Lass by? We'll try to make him very
happy."

"Yes'm!" agreed Dick, in much haste, his brow clearing from a
mental vision of Mrs. Hazen's face when she should see him return
with twice as many dogs as he had set out for. "Yes'm. If you