“If he knows that, I think little of his intelligence, Miss Tallant,” said Mr. Beaumaris, glancing down at the dog. “He certainly owes his life to you!”
“Oh, no! I could never have managed without your help! Will you be so obliging as to hand him up to me, if you please?” said Arabella, prepared to climb into the curricle again.
Mr. Beaumaris looked from her to the unkempt and filthy mongrel at his feet, and said: “Are you quite sure that you want to take him with you, ma’am?”
“Why, of course! You do not suppose that I would leave him here, for those wretches to torment as soon as we were out of sight! Besides, you heard what they said! He has no master—no one to feed him, or take care of him! Please give him to me!”
Mr. Beaumaris’s lips twitched, but he said with perfect gravity: “Just as you wish, Miss Tallant!” and picked up the dog by the scruff of his neck. He saw Miss Tallant’s arms held out to receive her new protégé, and hesitated. “He is very dirty, you know!”
“Oh, what does that signify? I have soiled my dress already, with kneeling on the flag-way!” said Arabella impatiently.
So Mr. Beaumaris deposited the dog on her lap, received his whip and gloves from her again, and stood watching with a faint smile while she made the dog comfortable, and stroked its ears, and murmured soothingly to it. She looked up. “What do we wait for, sir?” she asked, surprised.
“Nothing at all, Miss Tallant!” he said, and got into the curricle.
Miss Tallant, continuing to fondle the dog, spoke her mind with some force on the subject of persons who were cruel to animals, and thanked Mr. Beaumaris earnestly for his kindness in knocking the horrid boys’ heads together, a violent proceeding which seemed to have met with her unqualified approval. She then occupied herself with talking to the dog, and informing him of the splendid dinner he should presently be given, and the warm bath which he would (she said) so much enjoy. But after a time she became a little pensive, and relapsed into meditative silence.
“What is It, Miss Tallant?” asked Mr. Beaumaris, when she showed no sign of breaking the silence.