"Shall I start now?"
"Yes. Here is the string. Don't make Fido go too fast. He is stout, and cannot walk fast. You will be sure to take great care of him?"
"Yes, madam."
"And you keep watch that no bad man carries off my Fido. I used to send him out by one of the girls, till I found that she ill-treated the poor thing. Of course I couldn't stand that, so I sent her packing, I can tell you."
"I will try to follow your directions," said Frank, who wanted to laugh at the lady's ridiculous devotion to her ugly little favorite.
"That is right. You look like a good boy. I will give you something for yourself when you come back."
"Thank you, ma'am," said Frank, who was better pleased with this remark than any the lady had previously made.
Mrs. Leroy kissed Fido tenderly, and consigned him to the care of our hero.
"I suppose," said Frank to himself, "that I am the dog's nurse. It is rather a queer office; but as long as I am well paid for it I don't mind."
When Fido found himself on the sidewalk he seemed disinclined to move; but after a while, by dint of coaxing, he condescended to waddle along at Frank's heels.