98 "THE CAVALIER'S PETS."
kindness lavished upon them. They are made to be decked
in ribbons, not as part of a grand festive display-when even
a huge gaunt Flora may submit to the unsuitable accom-
paniment, simply to do honour to the occasion-but because
frippery of knots and bows belongs to them as to babies and
beauties and dandies. The little dogs like their ribbons as
they like their combings, washings, and gay baskets, all
of which bigger dogs would look upon as an unmitigated
nuisance.
 Withal, the King Charleses and the Blenheims have one
serious personal disadvantage. Their voices are not like
Cordelia's, low and sweet, neither are they, of course, sonorous,
like the voice of a big dog. They have a high-pitched, thin,
wearisome yelp, which, when they are vexed or angry, becomes
painfully querulous, or peevishly vixenish.
 All the other dogs we have discussed could do something
for their living, besides looking pretty, wriggling and chasing
their tails. Even Carlo could course when he was requested;
but Roi-or Roy, as his name was corrupted into old English-
and Reine were destitute of resources beyond the simple
ones mentioned. Were those gifts enough to entitle the dogs
to the daintiest maintenance? Were the shallow creatures
worthy of being a man's companions and friends? Alas! if
our receipts were measured by our deserts, many of us would
fare but badly. The little dogs were endowed with one quality
which we may be thankful appeals more forcibly than any
other to the hearts of men-not of weak men alone or prin-
cipally, but of the manliest and most generous of their kind.
Roy and Reine were helpless as delicate women and feeble
children, and in that very helplessness lay their charm to the