Alice, meanwhile, was running her hoop down some of the sloping walks, and liked especially to make her hoop hop down the stone steps of each of the different terraces. Alice was able to keep her hoop from falling, although she made it jump down every step; and she was very proud of doing this.
Wolf, the great dog, was chasing round and round the garden, now barking at some sparrows, and now at Alice’s hoop; then Alice and Wolf had a race together, and when they both came to the gravel walk where Beatrice was playing with her kitten, Wolf gave a growl, and was going up to the cat, which was in Beatrice’s arms; but Pussy was quicker than Wolf, for with one leap she sprang up a tree close by, and was in the branches in a minute.
Beatrice gave a cry of fear, for Wolf had startled her by coming up so suddenly; and then his attack on her dear little kitten made her quite afraid, and, half crying, Beatrice began to scold Wolf, and to call him a very naughty dog.
Alice soon came up, and took hold of Wolf by the collar, for he was barking and jumping up at the tree where the kitten had taken shelter; but Wolf would not attend to Alice; and Beatrice was more frightened about her little cat, and began to cry. Grandmamma had heard the noise, and came running to help the children, and was soon able to make Wolf leave the tree. As soon as the dog was gone away, grandmamma went to the tree, and lifted down the trembling kitten, who seemed glad to take refuge in her arms.
Alice had called Wolf away; and little Beatrice followed grandmamma through the open window into the house, and was very glad to have her little Mouser safe indoors again.
‘We must teach Wolf to be kind to pussy,’ said grandmamma to Beatrice, giving her the kitten to take upstairs.
‘Please do, grandmamma,’ replied Beatrice, ready to cry again; and she ran upstairs to take off her things, and to tell Mary all that had happened.
Grandmamma went back to Alice, who was standing quietly on the gravel walk with her hoop in one hand and holding Wolf by the collar with the other.
‘You are a brave little girl,’ said grandmamma, ‘and have kept Wolf in good order.’
Grandmamma then began to scold Wolf, and to talk to him; and the big dog looked wistfully into his mistress’s face, as if he understood what she said.