‘Certainly, my dear! Come along, Lion.’
When Ruth entered the sitting-room, leading Gertie, and followed by the huge mastiff, Mrs. Adrian gave a little scream.
‘Good gracious, Ruth!’ she cried, ‘what will you bring into the house next?’
‘Don’t be frightened, mother. Lion’s very gentle. Lie down, Lion!
Gertie nodded to Lion, as much as to say he might obey Miss Adrian. At his little mistress’s signal he sank down on his haunches, and, with his ears up and his eyes open, waited for further orders. What he thought of the proceedings it is impossible to say; but he had evidently made up his mind that Gertie was among friends, for he didn’t even growl when Mrs. Adrian called him a ferocious-looking beast, and horrified Gertie by asking how many people he usually ate at a meal.
With sundry reservations, Ruth told Gertie’s story for her, and then she begged that for the present, at least, she might be allowed to offer the child the shelter of their roof.
Mr. Adrian’s kind heart went out to the poor little child who had remained so simple and so gentle amid such surroundings, and he was as interested in her as though she had been a young Patagonian or a small South Sea Islander. He gave his consent directly.
Mrs. Adrian was not so easily mollified. She was sure that it was a plot, that robbers would come in the night, and that Gertie was to get up and let them in. Then she insisted that the child had various infectious complaints. But at last, having exhausted her objections, and made out fully to her own satisfaction that she was being turned out of house and home by a juvenile malefactor and a bloodthirsty mastiff, she gave her consent, and, having given it, was condescending enough to acknowledge privately to her daughter later on that Gertie was an interesting little thing, and much to be pitied.
That night Gertie slept with Ruth, and Lion, with much coaxing, was persuaded to accept the hospitable offer of the mat outside the door.
To Gertie all was new and strange, and the momentous events of the evening had not been without a disturbing influence on her mind; but Gertie was a child, and soon fell asleep.