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A DOG OF FLANDERS. 33

them that he lived ; and when he first
was well enough to essay a loud, hol-
low, broken bay, they laughed aloud,
and almost wept together for joy at
such a sign of his sure restoration ;
and little Nello, in delighted glee,
hung round his rugged neck with
chains of marguerites, and kissed him
with fresh and ruddy lips.

So, then, when Patrasche arose
himself again, strong, big, gaunt, pow-
erful, his great wistful eyes had a
gentle astonishment in them that
there were no curses to rouse him,
and no blows to drive him; and his
heart awakened to a mighty love,
which never wavered once in its
fidelity whilst life abode with him.

But Patrasche, being a dog, was