My Master’s Puptts. ISI

“Nay, they are my recreation. I mean rather a
little untaught boy with a great thirst for knowledge,
who came upon us the first night like an alarm of
fire, with ringing of bells and dismay of women ;
and who has somehow twined himself so close about
his old master’s heart, that I doubt whether I, for
one, can ever unloose the bond.”

My dear, dear master! how could I be such a
brute as to behave to him as I had done all the
morning? What a selfish wretch had I been to go
maundering over past troubles when I had him,
and his comfort and satisfaction, to live for! My
whole heart overflowed towards him, yet I could
hardly find a word to say. I stammered out,
“Master, dear master; you are very good tome. I
will try never to vex you again.”

I was not a bit satished with this specch, but
before I could think of anything better to say, the
door opened softly, and Master George, shoeless and
sparkling over with fun, peeped in. Making a sign
to me not to speak, he stole up to my master, and
held a long trailing piece of seaweed over his head
from behind.

“ Ah, Master George!” said my master, turning
round so composedly that Iam sure he must have
known of his entrance from the first ; “he is wel-
come back, although he comes rather as a Triton