But he only mumbled something unintelligible, then burst into renewed sobs.
"Get up from that dusty grass and tell me what it is all about," I said encouragingly, as I stooped down and took hold of his hand.
He rose slowly from the ground and looked at me doubtfully, half sobbing the while; then I saw how pretty he was. Such a pretty little boy, but oh! such a dirty one. He had the sweetest violet eyes, the prettiest golden curls, the most rosy of rosy checks that you can imagine, and he was dressed in the dearest little white-duck sailor's suit that any little boy ever wore. But at that moment the violet eyes were all swollen with crying, the golden curls were all tumbled and tossed, the rosy cheeks all smudged where dirty fingers had been rubbing away the tears, whilst as for the white-duck suit—well, to be accurate, I ought not to call it white. But as the small person inside of it had apparently been recklessly rolling on the ground, it was not surprising that something of its original purity had departed.
"What is the matter?" I asked again.
"I took Jack out for a walk and he runned away and I runned after him, but he wouldn't stop!" he sobbed vehemently.
Then, leaving go of my hand, he made a sudden dash towards the truant, who as suddenly ran off. My small friend wept afresh.
"He thinks that you are playing with him," I said; "that's why he runs away. Wait a moment!" seeing he made a movement as if he were again about to chase the dog.
"Look!" I went on, and going gently towards Jack, I picked him up and placed him beside his little master.
"Come along, you little beggar!" the indignant little fellow exclaimed, and, seizing hold of the cause of the commotion, he walked, or rather staggered, off with him.
Poor Jack! He did look so unhappy. I think you would have been as sorry for him if you had seen him, as I was. Hugged closely in his master's arms, his hind-legs hanging down in a helpless, dislocated fashion, he gazed after me piteously over his master's shoulder, as if to say, "Can you do nothing to help me?"