t, she recovered, and
scrambling weakly over my prostrate circle, she limped off to the pond,
and then sailed off into deep water with a delighted quackle that amply
repaid me.

"Our next misfortune was worse; but it did not cause any serious
consequences to us, although for a long time, warned by his previous
experience, poor Teddy walked about with a grave face, and trembled at
every ring of the bell. We were out as usual, and _had_, perhaps, put
more steam on than was quite necessary, for it was one of those lovely
fresh mornings in early June, that are as bracing as a glass of cold
water, or a breath of pure air. Teddy was capering and dancing along,
and had dealt me one of what he called his "left handers" which were
awkward, uncertain strokes, that _I_ privately christened "wobblers!"
Well, he had just given me a wobbler, when a horrid pebble came in my
way; and what business pebbles have in the way in the middle of a foot
path _I_ never could discover. They are quite out of their own track,
and very much in the way of elderly ladies and gentlemen who have pet
"callosities." Why, every toddling child tumbles over them, and as for
_my_ family, we abhor them! Let them be kept to their beaches, and
brooks, and not interfere with our few suburban enjoyments! Well, as I
was saying, when indignation got the better of me, I was turned _out_ of
my course by one of those hateful round, slippery pebbles, and _into_ a
strange garden, and a very smart one too! I slipped over the smooth,
dewy grass like lightning, and right through a clump of hyacinths,
ending my career by falling in a scrambling, all-four sort of fashion
all over a bed of choice tulips. How many I beheaded I do not know, for
Teddy, after peeping with a horrified face over the hedge, and seeing no
one about, made a rush in to rescue me, and carrying me off, never
stopped running till we were safe at home in the old stable.

"As I said before, we were not found out in that instance, and, after a
little seclusion, we came again into active life, when the crowning
misery happened that parted me from my poor little master. We were going
out quietly enough, and in a solitary lane too, turning as steadily as a
rusty old windmill, so that I felt half asleep; when suddenly I was
twirled about, whisked here and there, and then dropped in the dust,
amidst such a confusion of shouting and screaming as beggars
description. And this time it was owing to a donkey! This per