"LOW LIFE." 35
 In this period of probation I am glad to say that Prince's
conduct was irreproachable. As Nanse fed the dog regularly,
that the child, who could not eat himself, might have the
pleasure of seeing the dog eat, and with a faint hope that
Freddy might be induced to follow the "doggie's" example,
Prince was not exposed to the temptation of hunger, which
had already proved too much for his virtue. For that matter
he had not stolen in private houses, his depredations had been
committed in shops, and his dulness was in his favour at this
epoch, as it did not suggest an analogy between Nanse's little
larder and the regions from which he had been wont to pick
and steal.
 Then it was found true here, as elsewhere, that if there is
any lingering remnant of good in the rudest, most brutalised
man or dog, a helpless little child will call it forth. Prince, as
a rule, hated fondling, but he had some experience of children.
Though Jack had been twice Freddy's age when he appropri-
ated the dog-a strong puppy in the street, Jack had always
possessed, more or less, small brothers and sisters, with whom
Prince had been on friendly, familiar terms. Prince knew,
therefore, that fondlings and sundry other liberties-such as
clutching him round the neck, or pulling him by the tail-
must be put up with from senseless little children, although
no dog of spirit would stand them for a moment from grown-
up, rational people.
 Prince sat like patience on a monument, and permitted
Freddy to stroke his bristly hair backwards with hot little
hands, or to hold on by his ears, without uttering one note
of protest, till Mrs. Miles cried out of her full heart to her
husband, Miles, let us keep the dog ourselves; we're not