it there.

"There, there, little woman," he said, good-humouredly. "Let him
have his chance; he's a good pup, and will do you great credit
presently."

His hand continued to rest on the sheep-dog's neck or head, till
the three pups were comfortably full, and the foster herself was
comfortably eased of her bounteous milk-supply. Then, gently, he
removed his hand, and the foster proceeded to lick her own two pups
with exemplary diligence. Out of consideration for the Master, whom
she found an obviously well-meaning person, she refrained from
taking any active steps against the big grey pup, but she very
pointedly ignored him. And when, in due course, Finn came
galumphing about her neck, with all the doddering insolence of the
full-fed pup, she turned her head in the opposite direction with
cool superciliousness, and exhaled a long breath through her nose,
as though she found the air offensive. But the Master petted her,
and gave her a very little warm bread and milk. Then he took the
three puppies away in the warm blanket and handed one of them to
some one who waited outside the door of the back-kitchen. Finn,
with one sleepy foster-brother, was replaced in the hamper near the
kitchen stove.

A couple of hours later, the foster-mother began to worry, and to
wish that her puppies would come and take another meal. At about
the same time Finn and his diminutive companion in the hamper began
to worry, and to wish that they could have another meal. Ten
minutes after that they were carried down to the coach-house, and
put to nurse again. While they fed vigorously, the foster,
apparently by accident, touched Finn once or twice with her tongue,
in process of licking her own pup; and she did not growl.

"Good!" said the Master, and he sat down on a little barrel of
disinfectant powder to fill a pipe.

Then both puppies began to grovel and slide about the foster's legs
and body; this being the natural order of things for very young
puppies: to feed full, to grovel and wriggle, to sleep; and then to
begin again at the beginning. But for the complete comfort and
well-being of puppies at this age, certain maternal attentions,
apart from the provision of nourishment, are requisite. For several
minutes the foster-mother plied her own offspring with every good
office, and severely ignored the rotund and would-be playful Finn.
Then the sheep-dog lay flat on her side, and breathed out through
her nostrils a statement to the effect