tone.

"It's all I had to pet since you went away,"
Martha answered apologetically.

"Well, now I'm home, give him away, please.
Go away, you dreadful dog!" she cried, stamping
her foot as Meg, now reassured, tried to jump upon
her.

The dog fell back, and crouching close to Martha's
side raised his eyes appealingly, his ear and tail
dragging.

Jane now joined them. She had stopped to pick
some blossoms for the house.

"Why, Lucy, what's poor Meg done?" she asked,
as she stooped over and stroked the crestfallen beast's
head. "Poor old doggie--we all love you, don't
we?"

"Well, just please love him all to yourselves,
then," retorted Lucy with a toss of her head. "I
wouldn't touch him with a pair of tongs. I never
saw anything so ugly. Get away, you little brute!"

"Oh, Lucy, dear, don't talk so," replied the older
sister in a pitying tone. "He was half starved when
Martha found him and brought him home--and look