A DOG OF FLANDERS. 99

he wished that the old man’s memory
had erred_a little, instead of keeping
such sure account.

“ And why not there?” his grand-
father pursued. “Thou hast never
missed a year before, Nello.”

“ Thou art too sick to leave,” mur-
mured the lad, bending his handsome
young head over the bed.

“Tut! tut! Mother Nulette would
have come and sat with me, as she
does scores of times. What is the
cause, Nello?” the old man persisted.
“Thou surely hast not had ill words
with the little one?”

“Nay, grandfather —never,” said
the boy quickly, with a hot color in
his bent face. “Simply and truly,
Baas Cogez did not have me asked