He held in his hand a stick, with which he
meditatively struck the pebbles of the pathway as he walked along.
"At the sight of him Rory jumped up. She could not resist this
particular action on his part, which she considered a special invitation
to come and join in a good romp. To my consternation, before I could
prevent her, I saw her barking and jumping round the poor frightened old
gentleman, in good-natured but ominous-looking play.
"Seeing that he was really alarmed, I rushed off to his rescue, seized
my dog and apologised. Wishing at the same time to say something that
might somewhat condone her conduct, I said: 'I am very sorry, sir, but
you see she is only a puppy,' and pointed to Rory.
"This was not quite a correct statement, as my four-footed friend was at
that time about two years old, and measured nearly thirty inches from
the shoulder, but, as the old man seemed really frightened and muttered
two ugly words in connection with each other, 'Hydrophobia' and
'Police,' I was determined to do all I could to reassure him and smooth
down his ruffled plumes.
"However, my elderly acquaintance would not be comforted, and I heard
him muttering to himself as he retired from the square, 'Puppy indeed!
Puppy indeed!'
"Bean's death was very sad. Two years ago we left her in Yorkshire
whilst we went to London. We heard of her continually whilst we were
away, and she seemed very flourishing although growing old, till one day
I got a letter to say that the old dog was suddenly taken very ill and
could hardly move.
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