She patted his great head, not in the least afraid of him now, whilst he submitted to be made much of with great contentment.
"What a nice dog he is!" she exclaimed.
"You are accustomed to animals?"
"No, but I love them. We—mother and I—always lived in lodgings, and so, of course, I could not keep pets, and the last two years whilst we have been in Bristol—" She broke off and grew red, for she had been about to explain that they had had enough to do to feed themselves, but suddenly remembered there was no necessity to tell that to a stranger.
"And are you and your mother living in Bristol now?" he inquired after a brief pause.
"My mother died a week ago," Felicia responded in a low tone; "oh, it seems a great deal longer than that! And now—and now I have no home."
"No home? But you have friends?"
"Oh, yes!" she cried, her face brightening, "the best in the world!"
"Where are they? What are you doing at N—?"
Felicia hesitated and regarded him dubiously. He had a masterful way of asking questions as though he had a right to put them.