"Bad Fuzz!" she scolded. "Fuzz must go right back!" But Fuzz would neither go of himself, nor let her pick him up to carry him. So she walked back to the house, saying to herself,—
"Well, I don't mind my call, but I do hate to be late at Rob's, when I've constantly tried to impress on those boys that they must be prompt at engagements. However, 'the best laid plans of mice and men' must be changed to suit the will of a small imp of a puppy."
As she entered the house, Fuzz, with a skill that would do credit to a civil engineer, at the very least, took up his position at such a vantage point that he commanded an unobstructed view of both modes of exit, and sat watching them with an unblinking steadiness. Bess waited for a long quarter of an hour, hoping that the dog would give up the idea and signify his desire to come in. But no imperative bark was heard. On the contrary, Fuzz appeared to be abundantly satisfied with his position. Then Fred went out and sat down on the steps, inviting the dog to join him. But he proved less attractive than usual, and neither his coaxing nor Mrs. Carter's commands could move the delinquent from his post of observation. Then Bridget, now truly penitent for the carelessness that was causing "Miss Bess" so much delay, promenaded up and down before him, trailing behind her a perfectly bare beef-bone, tied to a string. Fuzz eyed her with seeming indifference, while she made three or four turns, then he darted forward, seized the bone, pulled till he broke the string, and then triumphantly walked off to a safe distance, where he lay down and fell to gnawing his bone. Annoyed and impatient as she was, Bess laughed outright, as she saw the quick act; and Bridget, in her turn, gave up.
Another period of waiting, and then Fred had a fresh proposal.
"See here, Miss Bess, if Fuzz wants a walk, I will give him one. I'll put on my hat and walk out beyond the tennis court, and he will come too. Then you can go."
"Could you, Fred? I am so anxious to go, only I hate to send you off alone," said Bess doubtfully, for as yet Fred's out-of-door excursions had mainly been made with her or Rob as escort.
"Yes, I'll be all right," said the boy, and then added wistfully, "How long shall you be gone?"
"No longer than I can help, my dear. Now be very careful of yourself." And she gave him his hat and the light, strong cane he depended on when alone.
She watched him as he moved slowly off across the broad lawn, with Fuzz frisking along by his side, and occasionally jumping against him with such unexpected force that it made him totter.
"Bless the child!" she thought. "He grows unselfish and considerate every day; and how well and happy he seems. I hope he will enjoy this new plan."