II2 "THE CAVALIER'S PETS."
that the appearance of the dogs was in keeping with that of
their master.
 Reine certainly did not take ill with reverses; though she
was getting up in years, she was more frisky than he re-
collected to have known her. As he was about to give her
the crust which was her due, she voluntarily stood up on her
hind legs, and, quite ignoring the fact that dancing was
prohibited by the Puritans, began to execute a fas seul which
he had taught her when he was an idle gentleman and she a
pampered favourite in the hall of the Alders. The spectacle
of the dirty, dishevelled little dog, in the untoward circum-
stances, capering demurely, of her own accord, like Queen
Elizabeth before the Scotch Ambassador, overcame a man in
whom a sense of the ridiculous was naturally strong, and he
laughed till the tears ran down his battered cheeks.
 Afterwards his attention was drawn to Roy, that was not
joining in the dance, and had only sniffed at the bit of bread
he had already received. The action had not been disdainful,
as of old, but wistful, and with a certain heaviness before the
dog turned away from his meal, and crept back, with hanging
head and drooping tail, to crouch down near his master.
Master Neville remembered that Roy had fallen behind in the
morning's walk. He spoke encouragingly to the dog, and
invited him to his knee, which had always been a coveted
couch and throne of honour with the little pair.
 But all Roy's response was to look up with the eyes which
were so like a child's, dim and glazing over, to draw a shiver-
ing sigh, to utter a little whimper of distress in which there
was the most piteous meek resignation, and to make one final
effort to drag himself nearer for help and comfort to his