54 MADGE’S MISTAKE.

Simmons would not laugh for the world, and
after shutting Tuft in again, stands perfectly
unmoved, touching his hat with the utmost
deference and respect, as if he were seeing
Father himself off, as I tell Jack afterwards.

Frisk appears to be in rather a trying
frame of mind this morning; whether he
thinks his breakfast was cut short or not I
don’t know, but he goes along in anything
but a satisfactory manner, and keeps branch-
ing off to the hedge on either side in a way
which is most provoking, considering the
hurried and anxious state of my feelings. I
remonstrate at first, and make munificent
offers of sugar and bread to be received on
arrival home; but this making no impression,
IT am at last compelled to stand up and
administer a cut over his ears. This having
the desired effect, he starts off into a fast
trot, which carries me along in splendid
style until we meet an unfortunate drove of
small pigs being driven to market. For
some reason or other Frisk entertains a
mortal hatred of pigs, and evinces his diseust