“Supper will be ready very soon,” Mrs. Jerry said, suggesting that her young mistress wait till it was served, as the muffins would all be cold. But Reinette was not hungry, she said, and Mrs. Jerry must eat the muffins herself. By and by she would perhaps have some toast and tea in her room; she would tell Mrs. Jerry when she wanted it, and she flashed upon the woman a smile so sweet and winning that it disarmed her at once of the resentment she might otherwise have felt because her nice supper was slighted and she must keep up the kitchen fire in order to have toast and tea whenever it should suit the young lady’s fancy.
Meanwhile Reinette went on her way, through the back yard toward the ledge of rocks, when suddenly she heard a pitiful whine, and, turning, saw the dog tugging at his chain to get away. In an instant she was at his side, with her arms round his neck, while she cried:
“Look, Pierre, what a noble fellow he is! Why do they keep him tied up? I mean to set him free.”
And she was about to do so, when the coachman, who was watching her at a little distance, called out:
“Miss Hetherton, you must not do that. He is strange here, and will run home. He has done so twice already.”
“Who are you?” Reinette asked, rather haughtily, and he replied:
“I am Stevens, and take care of the horses. Maybe you would like to see them; they are real beauties.”
“Yes, when I unchain the dog,” Reinette replied. “He’ll not run from me; I can tame him. What’s his name?”
“King,” said Stevens; and taking the dog’s face between her hands, and looking straight, into his eyes, Reinette said:
“Mr. Doggie, you are my king, and I am your queen. You must not run away from me. I’ll take such good care of you, and love you so much; and in proof thereof I give you your liberty.”