"Oh yes! I did not know you had brought him!" she exclaimed, and ran herself to the door and called him in.
He came in meekly. And I stood where she had left me by the easel, and watched her bend over him and caress him, and I thought I was badly used.
"Now, will you sit there?" she said, coming back and indicating a chair.
I took it in silence. Then she paused, looking at me.
"What is it?" I said, enquiringly.
"Would you—" and she hesitated.
"Continue: command me."
"Could you take off your collar?"
"I think, perhaps, I could," I said, looking up into her serious face. "I am not aware that it is an absolute fixture!"
She laughed, but she was seldom chaffed out of a reply.