`sharp.' Would you believe it, he brings
my boots up to my door, and it is a trick he taught himself!"

"Dear old doggy," she said, stooping down and patting his head. "What a
nice sagacious fellow you are! Come here, sir, and give me your paw!
Now, shake hands. Doggy, do you like me?" Catch could tell a friend at
once; so looking up, he licked her hand, expressing, as intelligently as
possible, that he was pleased to make her acquaintance. "How I love
dogs!" she ejaculated, rising up again.

"Do you!" said I. "Ah, Miss Clyde! `Love me, love my dog.'"

"What nonsense, Mr Lorton!" she said, with a warm blush tinting her
cheek. "But, I declare you haven't wished me the compliments of the
season yet. How very ungallant you are! I will set you an example--a
merry Christmas, Mr Lorton!"

"A thousand to you, Miss Clyde; and each happier than the last!" I
said.

"Oh dear, dear!" she exclaimed in mimic dismay; "I am sure I would not
care about having so many as that! Fancy a thousand Christmases--why,
what an old, old woman I should be then!"

"And a very nice old woman, too," said I.

"Merci pour le compliment, Monsieur," she replied, making me an
elaborate curtsey and laughing merrily. "And what have you got there?"
she asked, pointing to a little bunch of violets that I was extracting
from my overcoat pocket, and which I had procured for her when Catch met
his friend the gardener's dog.

"I got them for you, Miss Clyde," said I, somewhat bashfully; "and--
and--"

"Oh, _thank_ you, Mr Lorton," she said, quite pleased. "I love violets
more than any other flower. You could not have given me a nicer
present. I was only wishing for some just now. But, I hear mamma
coming down stairs; so, as I've not made the tea yet, I must go in--
good-bye!"

"Good-bye," I echoed, clasping her tiny hand in mine. "Good-bye, and
many good wishes for the day, _my darling_!" I courageously added the
last two words, lowering my voice over them, as she gently closed the
door.

She was not offended, if she _had_ heard the term of endearment I used,
for she gave me another nice little bow and smile from the window.
Still I think she _did_ hear me. I fancied I saw a conscious look in
the dancing grey eyes, a blush yet lingering on her damask cheek.

I went home with joy in my heart--joy which fed upon itself and
increased each moment. Don't you remember what Herder says? Let but
the heart once awake, and wave follo