Hamlet, whose hair was now about an inch long and neatly trimmed, was quite a respectable citizen, and from having plenty of exercise and dog companionship he had lost the nervous habit of shrieking when he barked. He and Tip had formed a fast friendship with just a bit of jealousy to bind it, for they both adored Miss Letty, Miss Jule declaring that her own nose was out of joint, for Tip, who had always slept on his mistress’s hearth rug, had transferred himself to the hall by Miss Letty’s door where he lay nightly with his nose close to the crack so as to get in the minute she awoke. Then, too, from being a very independent individual, who came and went as he pleased, under the coaxing of what Miss Jule called “Letty’s squash talk,” he learned to fetch and carry and sit up in a queer, helpless way, holding her slipper in his mouth with the most adoringly silly expression on his face. He had to prop himself against something, it is true, for his hind legs were not constructed for this position, but his intentions were of the best.
After supper the family at Happy Hall laughed until they were weak at his efforts, while poor Tommy, hearing the echo of their merriment, sobbed bitterly all alone in his little white bed. Anne had not forgotten him and instead of taking the moonlight walk that she so loved, with her father and mother, part way home with the guests, she called Waddles and slipped away upstairs to comfort Tommy, and tell him the news that Miss Letty had a new sailor hat and a plain white gown with no lace upon it that did not trail in the dirt, and yet that she looked even prettier in it than in her “flower lady” dresses. Also that she had put the cookies on his supper tray herself, and told Anne to take him a kiss and tell him that sometimes very big men forgot things that they ought to have done and did things they should be sorry for, and that Mr. Hugh got very red in the face when she sent this message.
Then Tommy stopped sobbing, took interest in his untouched supper, eating it cookie end first, while at that moment the baying of hounds was heard toward the river woods and Waddles, hurrying downstairs before Anne could catch him, pushed open the door and was off in full cry.
“Anne drew aside the curtain and looked out.”
Anne must have been asleep some hours, though it only seemed a few minutes, when she was wakened by an unusual sound and sat up to listen. The moonlight was streaming into the room, and as she waited the clock in the hall below chimed and struck two. Again the sound came, the baying of one loud dog voice and two little bays. Anne drew aside the curtain by her bed and looked out. Everything was either in white light or black shadow. The cries came nearer, and four animals sped across the open tennis court. Anne could plainly see a rabbit pursued by three dogs.
“It’s Happy and the twins; she’s teaching them the hunting all of her own accord when Mr. Hugh has to arrange it for the kennel dogs. Isn’t it wonderful?” said Anne, aloud, presumedly to the moon as there was no one else awake.