rise of
the ladies whom he attacked indicated the monstrosity of his offence;
but he had fairly beaten off his better angel, fairly committed moral
suicide; for almost in the same hour, throwing aside the last rags of
decency, he proceeded to attack the aged also. The fact is worth remark,
showing, as it does, that ethical laws are common both to dogs and men;
and that with both a single deliberate violation of the conscience
loosens all. "But while the lamp holds on to burn," says the paraphrase,
"the greatest sinner may return." I have been cheered to see symptoms of
effectual penitence in my sweet ruffian; and by the handling that he
accepted uncomplainingly the other day from an indignant fair one, I
begin to hope the period of _Sturm und Drang_ is closed.

All these little gentlemen are subtle casuists. The duty to the female
dog is plain; but where competing duties rise, down they will sit and
study them out, like Jesuit confessors. I knew another little Skye,
somewhat plain in manner and appearance, but a creature compact of
amiability and solid wisdom. His family going abroad for a winter, he
was received for that period by an uncle in the same city. The winter
over, his own family home again, and his own house (of which he was very
proud) reopened, he found himself in a dilemma between two conflicting
duties of loyalty and gratitude. His old friends were not to be
neglected, but it seemed hardly decent to desert the new. This was how
he solved the problem. Every morning, as soon as the door was opened,
off posted Coolin to his uncle's, visited the children in the nursery,
saluted the whole family, and was back at home in time for breakfast and
his bit of fish. Nor was this done without a sacrifice on his part,
sharply felt; for he had to forego the particular honour and jewel of
his day--his morning's walk with my father. And, perhaps from this
cause, he gradually wearied of and relaxed the practice, and at length
returned entirely to his ancient habits. But the same decision served
him in another and more distressing case of divided duty, which happened
not long after. He was not at all a kitchen dog, but the cook had nursed
him with unusual kindness during the distemper; and though he did not
adore her as he adored my father--although (born snob) he was critically
conscious of her position as "only a servant"--he still cherished for
her a special gratitude. Well, the cook left, and retired some streets
away t