.

"Plenty of it," he answered; "only so bad. My brother's dogs are
wretched. There is no doing any thing with such brutes."

Lily coloured a little, and said that she thought Rodolph's dogs
beautiful, and that it was very unlike him to have any thing wretched
belonging to him.

"Oh," replied the other, "he is the greenest fellow in the world. He is
always satisfied. I assure you his dogs are good for nothing. I did not
bring down a single bird any time I went out with them."

"Well," said my master, "I hope we shall be able to make amends for that
misfortune. To-morrow you shall go out with the best dog in the
country."

I whined, for I knew he meant me; and I did not like the idea of a
sportsman who began by finding fault with his dogs. I suspected that the
_dogs_ were not to blame. But nobody listened to me.

Next day, while Lily and I were playing in the garden, my master
appeared at the usual time in his shooting-jacket.

"Where is Craven?" he inquired of Lily; "I told him to be ready."

"He is dressing again," answered she, laughing; "his boots had done
something wrong, or his waistcoat was naughty; I forget which."

"Pshaw!" exclaimed my master; "he will waste half the day with his
nonsense. I cannot wait for him. Tell him I am gone on, and he must
follow with John. Go back, Captain," continued he, for I was bounding
after him in hopes of escaping my threatened companion; "go back. You
must do your best this morning, for I suspect you will know more about
the matter than your commander."

Most reluctantly I obeyed, and stayed behind, looking wistfully after
him as he strode away. I consoled myself with Lily's praises, which I
almost preferred to the biscuits she bestowed upon me in equal
profusion. After various compliments, she took a graver tone. "Now,
Captain," she said, "listen to me."

I sat upright, and looked her full in the face.

"You know you are the best of dogs."

I wagged my tail, for I certainly did know it. She told me so every day,
and I believed every thing she said.

"Here is another biscuit for you: catch!"

I caught, and swallowed it at one gulp.

"Good boy. Now that is enough; and I have something to say to you. You
are going out shooting with Craven. He is not his brother, but that
cannot be helped. I hope he will be good-natured to you, but I am not
sure. Now mind that _you_ behave well, and set him a good example. Do
your own work as well as you can, and don't growl and