“And how are you this evening, Miss Leeson?”
Sylvia had not seen her as she approached. The girl started now and turned quickly round.
“You are Jasper?” she said. “What are you doing here?”
“Taking the air, miss. Have you any objection?”
“None, of course,” replied Sylvia.
Had there been light enough to see, Jasper would have noticed that the girl’s face took on a cheerful expression. She laid her hand on Pilot’s forehead. Pilot growled. Sylvia said to him:
“Be quiet; this is a friend.”
Pilot evidently understood the words. He wagged his bushy tail and looked in Jasper’s direction. Jasper came boldly up and laid her hand beside Sylvia’s on the dog’s forehead. The tail wagged more demonstratively.
“You have won him,” said Sylvia in a tone of delight. “Do you know, I am glad, although I cannot tell why I should be.”
“He looks as if he could be very formidable,” said Jasper.—“Ah, good dog—good dog! Noble creature! So I am your friend? Good dog!”