"It's all very well for those in good health to say I should bestir myself," he proceeded; "I'm tired of being preached at. It's always the same old lore, first from my sister, then from her husband, and even Doris and Molly keep up the refrain, 'You ought to come out in the sunshine!' Ought I? I think I should be allowed to do as I like. There's Lion at the door, Felicia, you may as well let him in first as last, for he'll keep on scrape-scrape-scrape till you do."
"GET OUT OF SIGHT, YOU AND THE DOG TOO!"
The little girl admitted the dog, and returned to her former post at the window, whilst Lion approached the sofa, and wagging his tail with the utmost amiability, commenced to lick the invalid's hand. To Felicia's astonishment her uncle repulsed the dog, hitting him across the head with the magazine he was holding at the moment. Startled at this unexpected reception of his caress, Lion sprang awkwardly aside and knocked over a small table which held several books and a handsome Venetian vase which Mrs. Pring had presented to her brother on his last birthday. The poor dog, puzzled at the treatment he had received from one who was usually kind to him, and shocked at the mischief he had wrought, retreated into a corner of the room, whilst Felicia set the table on its legs and picked up the scattered books, but the beautiful vase was smashed.
"Oh, what a pity!" the little girl exclaimed. "Oh, Uncle Guy, your vase is broken into several pieces! Oh, how sorry I am!"
She paused, too frightened to continue, for her uncle's face was actually distorted with passion, and his eyes blazed with rage.
"Get out of my sight!" he cried roughly, "you and the dog, too! You have done mischief enough for one day. Go away, I say!"
"But, uncle, it was not my fault, I could not help it. You told me to let Lion in," she reminded him.
"I know that, but he would not have come scraping at the door if you had not been here. He follows you like your shadow. Oh, what a day this has been! Am I never to be allowed any peace? Go away! Do you hear? Go away, and take Lion with you."
Frightened and indignant, Felicia hastened to do his bidding. She spoke to Lion, who came to her immediately, and with her hand on his collar she led him out of the room. In the corridor she encountered Price, and told him what had happened. The old man appeared sorry, and sought to soothe her ruffled feelings.