MY EARLY FRIENDS. 139
father, by that time recovering, lay in bed-was shown his
master, and spoken to by him. I don't think the dog attempted
to leap on the bed, or did more than wag his bushy tail with
immense relief and repressed gladness; but when. a plate with
his food was offered to him in the loved presence, he ate it
quietly without further demur. Forthwith he went about his
business, content to discharge it faithfully, as a trust com-
mitted to him, and to wait hopefully for the reappearance of
his master.
 Poor Gasto, to my father's great regret and indignation,
was cruelly poisoned by some ill-disposed persons in the
neighbourhood. Another dog of ours fell a victim to their
misdeeds. He was a huge, fawn-coloured, young watch-dog,
named Neptune," that was thus summarily cut off before he
had got beyond the boisterous uncouthness of his hobble-de-
hoyism.
 I have come to the advent of a prized dog, so long a much
esteemed member of the household, that she was regarded,
not only by ourselves but our friends, as one of the family.
She was a pure bred and fine terrier, given when she was
about a year old to my brother, as the parting gift of a friend
about to sail for Ceylon. She was dear for his sake as well
as for her own, but she soon needed no external recommenda-
tion to make her a chief favourite. I have only a hazy
recollection of her introduction to us, but a fragment of her
illustrious pedigree, which was imparted with befitting serious-
ness, lingers in my mind. "Her mother was a lineal de-
scendant of the dog that fought the lion at Warwick." What
sort of lion-baiting this was ? how it happened to take place
at Warwick? what was the date of the event? whether