The dog obeyed his master's call, and allowed Mavis to pat his great head, after which, he licked her hand, and she felt she had made a friend.
"He is a Newfoundland," Mr. Moseley said, "and he will fetch anything out of the water. See!"
He picked up a stone, showed it to the dog, and flung it into the river. Max dived after it immediately, and presently, reappearing, swam ashore and laid the same stone at his master's feet. Mavis was delighted, and the performance was repeated several times for her benefit.
"What a clever dog he is!" she cried, enthusiastically. "Aren't you very fond of him?"
"Yes," the Vicar replied, "Max and I are great friends; we understand each other. How do you think you will like life in the country?" he inquired.
"I should like it, if mother was here, but I don't think I can be happy anywhere without her," was the doleful response.
"Oh yes, you can," he said decidedly; "you must try to be happy; that is the duty of every one. Life is hard for most of us at some time or other; it brings pain and separation. But we ought not to become gloomy and sad. If there were no partings, there would be no happy meetings. What is your name, my dear?"
"Mavis Grey."
"Mavis is a very pretty name. A little girl with that name should be as happy as a bird!"
Mavis smiled. She thought she would like to tell him how much she had enjoyed his sermon last night. And, after a brief hesitation, she did so.