astonishment, his ears erect, and a keen look of question on his
sagacious visage: what strange animal, speaking like, and yet so
unlike, an orthodox dog, could have got into his very chamber?
Gibbie, amused at the dog's fright, and assured by his looks that
he was both a good-natured and reasonable animal, burst into a fit
of merry laughter as loud as his previous barking, and a good deal
more musical. The dog evidently liked it better, and took it as a
challenge to play: after a series of sharp bursts of barking, his
eyes flashing straight in at the door, and his ears lifted up like
two plumes on the top of them, he darted into the kennel, and began
poking his nose into his visitor. Gibbie fell to patting and
kissing and hugging him as if he had been a human--as who can tell
but he was?--glad of any companion that belonged to the region of
the light; and they were friends at once. Mankind had disappointed
him, but here was a dog! Gibbie was not the one to refuse mercies
which yet he would not have been content to pray for. Both were
tired, however, for both had been active that day, and a few minutes
of mingled wrestling and endearment, to which, perhaps, the
narrowness of their play-ground gave a speedier conclusion,
contented both, after which they lay side by side in peace, Gibbie
with his head on the dog's back, and the dog every now and then
turning his head over his shoulder to lick Gibbie's face.

Again he was waked by approaching steps, and the same moment the dog
darted from under him, and with much rattle out of the kennel, in
front of which he stood and whined expectant. It was not quite
dark, for the clouds had drifted away, and the stars were shining,
so that, when he put out his head, he was able to see the dim form
of a woman setting down something before the dog--into which he
instantly plunged his nose, and began gobbling. The sound stirred
up all the latent hunger in Gibbie, and he leaped out, eager to have
a share. A large wooden bowl was on the ground, and the half of its
contents of porridge and milk was already gone; for the poor dog had
not yet had experience enough to be perfect in hospitality, and had
forgotten his guest's wants in his own: it was plain that, if Gibbie
was to have any, he must lose no time in considering the means. Had
he had a long nose and mouth all in one like him, he would have
plunged them in beside the dog's; but the flatness of his mouth
causing the neces