ad been taken back, and hesitated between anger and amusement.
When Tim hesitates he loses his temper as a sensible man should lose
it--he buries it, and his indomitable good humor wins.

"Tip Pulsifer says it's like religion," he answered. "At first it
makes you feel all low-down like, and miserable, and you don't care.
Then you either get over it entirely or become so used to it you don't
feel it at all."

"May I be spared!" I cried, "and may you get over it."

But the youngster refused to commit himself. He just smiled and
smoked, and it seemed as though in his suffering he was half happy. I
smoked, too. We smoked together. The silence startled Captain, for
the clock struck, and yawning, he arose, trotted to my side, and with
one leap he brought his ponderous paws into my lap.

You can trust your dog. He never fails you.

"Well, old chap," I said, as I scratched his nose ever so gently, "you
at least have no one to think of but me and Tim there, eh?"

[Illustration: "Well, old chap!"]

"No," cried Captain heartily.

That was not the exact word that he used, but he expressed it by
beating his tail against the table and giving a long howl.

"And if Tim, there, goes dawdling after a woman, we shall stick to the
ridges, and the foxes, and the rabbits. We can't go as fast as we used
to, Captain, but we can go together, eh?"

"The same as ever and the same forever," cried Captain.

Those were not his exact words, but I saw his answer in his eyes, for
he had climbed higher and they were close to mine. He seemed ready to
swallow me.

"And when he brings her home, Captain," said I, "and fills the whole
house with young ones who'll pull your tail and tickle your ears and
play horse with my crutches, we shall sit outside and smoke our pipes
alone, in peace and quiet, eh, Captain?"

"Oho!" cried Captain. "That we will, and you never need want, Mark,
for I've many a fine bone buried away against old age and rainy
weather."

"Spoken like a man," said I, slapping the hound on the back.

Tim had lighted a candle. Now he blew out the lamp and stood over me
in the half-light, holding out a hand.

"Come," he said. "That's right, put your hand on my shoulder, for the
stairs are steep and will trouble you. That's the way. Come along,
Captain; to-night we'll all go up together. And when she comes--that
woman--we'll go to your house--all three of us--the same as now--eh,
Captain?"

IV

"I love so