While I was talking, Arthur was playing with the dogs, but he was listening to what I said.

“Then how hungry you all must be!” he cried.

At this word, which the animals well knew, the dogs began to bark and Pretty-Heart rubbed his stomach vigorously.

“Oh, Mamma!” cried Arthur.

The lady said a few words in a strange language to a woman, whose head I could see through a half open door. Almost immediately the woman appeared with some food.

“Sit down, my child,” said the lady.

I did so at once. Putting my harp aside I quickly sat down in the chair at the table; the dogs grouped themselves around me. Pretty-Heart jumped on my knee.

“Do your dogs eat bread?” asked Arthur.

“Do they eat bread!”

I gave them a piece which they devoured ravenously.