rain, improved very much in the following week, and, as often happens in
January, there were several days with the sun shining, no wind and light
frosts at night, these frosts becoming more intense as the days went on
till bye and bye they began to think of snow.

With this spell of fine weather it was but natural that Mr. Tebrick
should think of taking his vixen out of doors. This was something he had
not yet done, both because of the damp rainy weather up till then and
because the mere notion of taking her out filled him with alarm. Indeed
he had so many apprehensions beforehand that at one time he resolved
totally against it. For his mind was filled not only with the fear that
she might escape from him and run away, which he knew was groundless,
but with more rational visions, such as wandering curs, traps, gins,
spring guns, besides a dread of being seen with her by the
neighbourhood. At last however he resolved on it, and all the more as
his vixen kept asking him in the gentlest way: "Might she not go out
into the garden?" Yet she always listened very submissively when he told
her that he was afraid if they were seen together it would excite the
curiosity of their neighbours; besides this, he often told her of his
fears for her on account of dogs. But one day she answered this by
leading him into the hall and pointing boldly to his gun. After this he
resolved to take her, though with full precautions. That is he left the
house door open so that in case of need she could beat a swift retreat,
then he took his gun under his arm, and lastly he had her well wrapped
up in a little fur jacket lest she should take cold.

He would have carried her too, but that she delicately disengaged
herself from his arms and looked at him very expressively to say that
she would go by herself. For already her first horror of being seen to
go upon all fours was worn off; reasoning no doubt upon it, that either
she must resign herself to go that way or else stay bed-ridden all the
rest of her life.

Her joy at going into the garden was inexpressible. First she ran this
way, then that, though keeping always close to him, looking very sharply
with ears cocked forward first at one thing, then another and then up to
catch his eye.

For some time indeed she was almost dancing with delight, running round
him, then forward a yard or two, then back to him and gambolling beside
him as they went round the garden. But in spite of her joy she was