that:--

"That is really quite as far as I can be expected to go. This big
grey creature has fed beside mine, and I have suffered it, as a
matter of charity; but---no more. The great clumsy thing must shift
for itself now."

But Finn appeared to think otherwise. His mode of progression was
rather that of an intoxicated snake, or an over-fed turtle on dry
land; but he managed to stagger along as far as the foster's
muzzle, and swayed there on his little haunches within reach of her
warm breath. Instinct guided the pup so far, and left him waiting
vaguely uncomfortable.

The Master watched closely, but nothing happened, save that the
bitch ostentatiously closed her eyes. Then instinct moved again,
strongly, in shapeless little Finn, and he straddled the foster's
nose, so that his round stomach pressed on her nostrils. There he
wriggled helplessly. Then a curious thing happened, while the
Master leaned forward, prepared to snatch the pup from danger. The
sheep-dog emitted a low, angry growl, which filled Finn with
uncomprehending fear, and toppled him over on his fat back. But,
even while she growled, maternity asserted its claim strongly in
the kindly heart of this soft-eyed sheep-dog. Finn did not know in
the least what he wanted; but the wise little sheep-dog did; and,
her growl ended, she rolled Finn into the required position with
her nose, and gave him the licking and tongue-washing which his
bodily comfort demanded, with quiet, conscientious thoroughness.
When this was over, Finn, feeling ever so much more content, sidled
back to a place beside the other pup, and in a minute the pair of
them were fast asleep in the warm shelter of the foster's flank.
Then the Master laid down his pipe, and bent forward to stroke and
fondle the little sheep-dog for two or three minutes, chatting with
her, and establishing firmly the friendship already begun between
them. And then, feeling quite safe in the matter, now that the
foster had once licked Finn into comfort, he went away, and left
the three together while he paid a visit to Tara.

Next morning, while the foster-mother was being petted and fed in
the garden, some one removed her own little puppy from the bed, and
when she returned to the coach-house, full of the contentment
inspired by a good meal, a little exercise, and a deal of kindly
petting, it was to find her bed occupied only by the big grey
whelp. But she showed no more than momentary surprise and
uneasiness,