“Why, you cute little fellow!” he cried. “You’re grinning!” He seemed to think it was just as cute as everybody else did.
He patted me and praised me, and then he went away and got a piece of carpet and folded it up and put it in a corner of the room for a bed for me to sleep on.
I was so full and comfortable that I went right over and curled up on it, and then I looked up at him and wagged my tail and grinned again.
“Oh, I do hope I can keep you, Muffins,” he said; “you’re so cunning.” And he patted me again and then he went away and left me, and I was so sleepy I just sighed and shut my eyes and went to sleep, and never knew anything more until it was morning again.
II
WHEN I first opened my eyes I hardly knew where I was. Then I remembered. I was in the laundry, and I hadn’t had any breakfast yet. It was lonesome there, all by myself. I began to whine and yelp. I yelped louder and louder. Presently I heard somebody coming. I cocked my head on one side and listened, and then I began to wag my tail for I felt sure it was the boy. And it was.
He opened the door and came in, and patted me and made a fuss over me. “Poor Muffins,” he said. “Poor boy! Poor little fellow! I know you were lonesome. Come on, boy! Come on!”
He led the way out and up the stairs, and I followed close at his heels.