"I rang of course, and very quickly the door was opened, and in he rushed, and, satisfied that he was all right, I was turning away, when—this is the point of my story—I heard a bustle and fuss just inside the closing door, my friend's bark, rather vehement this time, a voice in remonstrance 'what can he want?' then the door opened and out he sprang again. He looked round eagerly, and as soon as he saw me stood still on the doorstep, gave a quick cheerful little bark, wagging his tail with the greatest energy the while, and with still another 'bow-wow,' turned round and ran in quietly. It was the plainest 'thank you ma'am for being so kind,' that ever was spoken in dog or any language. Now don't you call that behaving like a gentleman?"
"Yes indeed," said the children heartily, and Archie, whose trayful was ready for some other process by this time, turned to Sybil with deference.
"Please, Sybil, will you kindly open the door?"
She did so, and he disappeared, but in a moment his voice was again heard begging for re-admittance.
"I beg your pardon," he said, "I have come back again to say 'thank you.' If I had a tail to wag I could do so."
But though they got some fun out of it, I don't think Auntie's anecdote did Master Archie any harm.
