A dog rushed in, followed by a man, who had a string in his hand, one end fastened to the dog's collar. On his back—the dog's—was strapped a tin box.
"Excuse me, Miss, but I'd like to see the Mistress," said the man, whose red hair and beard, and eye covered with a black patch, made him rather a disgusting object to look upon.
Miss Williams and Rose were yet in the dining-room lingering over a late dinner.
"I'll see," said the maid, but dog and peddler followed her at once into the presence of the ladies.
Quite a ripple of amusement was created at the novel sight of the dog bearing the peddler's pack.
"Ladies, I beg your pardon," cried the queer looking man, lifting his hat and thrusting it under his arm.
Then he called the dog, unfastened the tin box and opened it, displaying
Yankee notions in abundance.
But Miss Alstine wanted none of these.
Janet and the maid, however, seemed quite pleased with the display, and examined everything in the box, while Rose petted the dog, a shaggy, good-natured fellow.
The peddler, while expatiating on the good qualities of his goods, managed to steal to the side of Rose.