alled, when she drew from her
pocket and gave me a pink-coloured note, which smelt like a nice garden,
and even brought one to my view as plainly as if it had suddenly danced
before me, and saying there was no reply, returned by the way she had
come.

I did not require to be told by whom it was sent. I knew the writing too
well. The neat folding, the small but clean address assured me that a
lady's paw had done it all, and every word of the direction--

+---------------------------------------+
| MASTER JOB, |
| |
| In the Little Dogs' Street, |
| |
| F. LOWER CANEVILLE. |
+---------------------------------------+

spoke to me of Fida, and did not even need the F. in the corner to
convince me of the fact. With her permission, I here give you the
contents:--

"MY DEAR JOB,

"I am sorry I was away from home when your letter arrived, and
would have told you I was going, but that I thought the news
might cause you pain, as I, by some mischance, had got my
tail jammed in a door, and was forced to leave home in order
to visit a famous doctor, who lives at some distance. He
fortunately cured me after a few days' illness, and the tail
wags now as freely as ever, although it was very annoying, as
well as ridiculous, to see me walking up and down the room
with that wounded member so wrapped up that it was as thick as
my whole body, and was quite a load to drag about.

"But, dear Job, I do not write this to talk about myself,
though I am forced to give you this explanation of my silence:
what I wish is to say something about _you_. And to begin, as
you have always been a good, kind dog, and listened to me
patiently when I have praised, you must now be just as kind
and good, and even more patient, because I am going to scold.

"Dear Job, when I met you this morning in your new dress and
occupation, I had not then read your letter. I had but just
returned, and was taking a walk with my brother, who had
arrived from abroad during my absence. I knew you at once, in
spite of your change of costume, and though I did not
particularly like the business you had chosen, I felt certain
you had good reasons for having selected it. But when I looked
in your face, instead of the smile of wel