"Well, now," said Jane, "what for?"
"To beat my dog with. He's got to be punished."
"That's a pity, Dickywick. What's he been doing?"
"He won't let me go out into the road. Every time he caught hold of my coat and pulled me back. He's most frightfully strong, and he pulled me over once. He wants a lamming."
"I wonder if he would let me go out," said Jane. "Let's go and see, shall we?"
"Right-oh," said Dick, perfectly satisfied.
In the garden they found Zero cheerful and quite unrepentant. As a rule, he rushed to the gate in the hopes of being taken out for a run. But this evening, as Jane neared the gate, he became disquieted. He caught hold of her dress and tried to drag her back. He ran round and round her, whimpering. He flung himself in front of her feet.
"Now, you see," said Dick triumphantly.
"Yes, I see."
"Well, I shall go and fetch a stick."