Cat and Dog | Page 2

I was not without my own methods of showing my
sentiments. If I felt indifferent or contemptuous towards a person
entering the room, I merely opened one eye and yawned at him. If he
attempted any compliments, calling me "Good Captain," "Fine Dog,"
and trying to pat me, I shook off his hand, and rising from my rug,
turned once round, and curling my tail under me, sank down again to
my repose without taking any further notice of him. But occasionally
my master admitted visitors whom I considered as such highly

improper acquaintances for him, that I could scarcely restrain my
indignation. I knew I must not bite them, though, in my own opinion, it
would have been by far the best thing to do; I did not dare so much as
to bark at them, for my master objected even to that expression of
feeling: but I could not resist receiving them with low growls; during
their visit I never took my eyes off them for a moment, and I made a
point of following them to the door, and seeing them safe off the
premises. Others, on the contrary, I regarded with the highest
confidence and esteem. Their visits gave almost as much pleasure to
me as to my master, and I took pains to show my friendship by every
means in my power; leaving the fireside to meet them, wagging my tail,
shaking a paw with them the moment I was asked, and sitting with my
nose resting on their lap.
But I took no unwelcome liberties; for I was gifted with a particular
power of discriminating between those who really liked me, and those
who only tolerated me out of politeness. Upon the latter I never
willingly intruded, though I have been sometimes obliged to submit to
a hypocritical pat bestowed on me for the sake of my young mistress;
but a real friend of dogs I recognised at a glance, whether lady or
gentleman, so that I could safely place my paw in the whitest hand, or
rest my head against the gayest dress, without fear of a repulse.
The person I loved best in the world was my master; or rather, I should
say, he was the person for whom I had the highest respect. My love was
bestowed in at least an equal degree upon my young mistress, his
daughter Lily, in whose every action I took a deep interest.
She was a graceful, gentle little creature, whom I could have knocked
down and trampled upon in a minute; but though my strength was so
superior to hers, there was no one whom I was so ready to obey. A
word or look from Lily managed me completely; and her gentle
warning of "Oh, Captain," has often recalled me to good manners when
I was on the point of breaking out into fury against some obnoxious
person. Willing subject as I was, I yet looked upon myself in some
manner as her guardian and protector, and it would have fared ill with
man or beast who had attempted to molest her.

As I mentioned before, I was not allowed to come much into the
drawing-room; but Lily found many opportunities of noticing me. I
always sat at the foot of the stairs to watch for her as she came down to
the breakfast-room, when she used to pat my head and say, "How do
you do, good Captain? Nice dog," as she passed. Then I wagged my tail,
and was very happy. I think I should have moped half the day if I had
missed Lily's morning greeting. After breakfast she came into the
garden, and brought me pieces of toast, and gave me lessons in what
she considered clever ways of eating. I should have preferred snapping
at her gifts and bolting them down my own throat in my own way; but,
to please Lily, I learned to sit patiently watching the most tempting
buttered crust on the ground under my nose, when she said, "Trust,
Captain!" never dreaming of touching it till she gave the word of
command, "Now it is paid for;" when I ate it in a genteel and deliberate
manner. Having achieved such a conquest over myself, I thought my
education was complete; but Lily had further refinements in store. She
made me hold the piece of toast on my very nose while she counted ten,
and at the word ten I was to toss it up in the air, and catch it in my
mouth as it came down. I was a good while learning this trick, for I did
not at all see the use of it. I could smell the bread distinctly as it lay on
my nose, and why I should not eat it at