Suddenly she turned in a passion to our Missie. “Why don’t you prevent me? He’s your dog, you say.”
“I shall not use force, cousin,” said Mrs. Martin. “If I thought you were going to be unkind to him, I would, but I know you would never illtreat an animal.”
Her tone was quite amiable, though cold, and
her cousin looked as if she did not know what to do. Then she started again, pulling and hauling Niger over the carpet. By the time she reached the hall she was quite out of breath, and meeting Mr. Martin who was coming home early to lunch, she was confounded to hear him burst into a roar of laughter.
Quickly recovering himself, he said, “A thousand pardons, Mrs. Ringworth, but the sight was so—so overcoming. Allow me to pull that dog for you.”
“Your wife wants to keep it,” said Mrs. Ringworth defiantly.
“Naturally,” he said with great good humor. “He’s our dog.”
“But I bought him,” said Mrs. Ringworth persistently.
“And you love the creature,” said Mr. Martin, with a merry twinkle in his eye.
“I adore him,” said the lady fervently.