The collie was pulling her white frock with his teeth.
Cassowary went over the railing again to a corner where a shoat lay on a heap of clean straw.
The other collie was licking his shoulder.
"Only a scratch, Guardie," said the girl "It's not worth washing."
But the dog persisted. I knew what he wished, but my young master asked Cassowary why he was behaving so peculiarly.
"Because young Jaundice has bruised his shoulder and Guardie wants some lotion put on it. Watch him take me to the medicine room. Lead on, my boy."
The good dog, looking over his shoulder, led the way to the barn floor, and presently the laughing girl came back with a basin and white cloth in her hand.
"It's all nonsense, you know, Guardie," she said. "Your old tongue is as good as this antiseptic; however, one must oblige a friend, if only a dog," and she washed the shoulder of the pig who took on great airs at having two dogs and a girl fussing over him while a pony and a boy looked on.
"Now let's go," said Cassowary. "I'll just shut the little pigs' bedroom door. They're old enough to sleep alone and if they run to their mammas sometimes they get rolled on. Good night, children," and with a motherly air she led us away from the barn cellar.
"Hello! what's the fuss about?" she cried when we got outside.