to him. How ever he got himself in such a state as he was day before yesterday, when he came home all smothered in blood and his ear bit through, besides other wounds, we can't think; but Mr. Stevens he says he don't suppose it was a rabbit as served him so. Mr. Stevens wasn't nearly so displeased as we expected, and laughed quite good-humoured like-which we was glad of, because his language about the dog of late has been such as I am sure you would not approve of it, miss, if you was to hear it.'

Stevens, the keeper, received prompt instructions from London to the effect that Topper was not to be thrashed, and was in

formed that Miss Hylton would herself, on her return, break the dog of any vices that he might have developed

Such an undertaking on the part of a young lady perhaps justified the scornful guffaw which it provoked; yet it is a fact that, when Miss Hylton did return, her refractory pet ceased to be a poacher. Ordinarily a somewhat undemonstrative dog, he greeted her with such extravagant joy that she could not have found it in her heart to be angry with him, even if she had been what she did not happen to be, an ardent preserver of game; and as from that moment he never voluntarily quitted her side, she had no occasion to resort to measures which had been unsuccess

fully employed by others. Every now and again, to be sure, temptation in the shape of a scurrying rabbit overpowered him; but really there can be no great harm in chasing an occasional rabbit out in the open, nor was it difficult to avoid walking or riding in the direction of the coverts.

By degrees, in the course of the long summer days which followed, and which were spent by Miss Hylton and her aunt in a solitude more satisfactory to the younger than to the elder lady, Topper established himself in the position which he quietly, but pertinaciously, solicited, of his mistress's confidant, ousting the terriers, the pug, the dachshund and the poodle, amongst whom the office had hitherto been held in commission. She found him admirable in that capacity, as, indeed, every honest dog is; upon his sympathy and comprehension she could always rely, and his inability to betray her secrets by word of mouth led her to tell him a number of things which it would have been scarcely safe to mention to a human friend. For the most part he put his head on one side, cocked his ears, looked wise and agreed with her; yet there were certain points as to which he appeared to reserve to himself the right of future judgment. There was, for example, the case of Captain Leycester, who was still neither accepted nor rejected, but who was coming down to stay with. Jack Goodwin as soon as the hunting began, and to whom a definite answer would then have to be given. It may have been imagination, but Alice Hylton was convinced that Topper was not yet prepared to extend the paw of good-fellowship to Captain Leycester.

On the other hand, he took at once to her old friend and playfellow Jack Goodwin, who rode over from time to time, and met with the welcome to which an old friend was entitled. Topper's unerring instinct caused him to recognise this simple, unassuming and rather plain-featured gentleman immediately as one of the right sort; nor could it be denied that, from Topper's point of view, that description applied to one who was an excellent allround sportsman and a thoroughly kind-hearted fellow. That Mr. Goodwin was neither brilliant nor rich, nor highly connected, accounted for the equanimity with which his frequent visits were tolerated by Mrs. Lindsay. With such a man Alice was in no danger of falling in love. Moreover, if any danger of the kind had existed, it must have declared itself long ago; for she had known Jack Goodwin from her childhood. For the rest, Jack was quite conscious of his own disabilities -well aware also that the lady for whom he entertained a profound and respectful

admiration was in all probability destined to become the bride of his friend Leycester. Being still so undecided as to the course of a destiny which depended solely upon herself, she might, not unnaturally, have consulted Jack before coming to a determination; but, for some reason or other, she refrained from doing so. Perhaps she felt less secure of his discretion than of Topper's; perhaps she was a little provoked by the resolute, painstaking fashion in which he seized every occasion of singing Captain Leycester's praises.

In the month of November, a few days after the opening meet of the season, the prétendant, accompanied by his faithful Goodwin, reappeared upon the scene, and it is the painful duty of the present chronicler to record that he had scarcely swallowed the cup of tea and the slice of cake offered to him by Miss Hylton when he was made the victim of a very disgraceful and inhospitable outrage. How do these deplorable episodes occur? Almost always, in the case of a sudden affray, each party concerned has his own version of the affair to give; but, of course, nothing can excuse an attack upon the person of a guest; and while Captain Leycester, hastily wrapping a handkerchief round his wounded fingers, was protesting that it did not in the least matter, Topper was receiving the first sound whipping ever inflicted upon him by his mistress.

That's the worst of fox-terriers,' remarked Jack Goodwin apologetically. 'They don't really mean any harm; but they get excited and lose their heads, and then, when it's too late, they're awfully sorry, you know.'

The crestfallen Topper, who had accepted his punishment (and a pretty severe punishment it had been, too) without once giving tongue, crawled to the side of this friend in need, and looked eloquently up into his face, as who should say, 'Thank you, sir. My conduct has been abominable, I know, and I am sorry that I should have brought shame upon the house; but, when you imply that I regret having made my teeth meet in that fellow's hand, you go just a shade too far.'

That such was his meaning was rendered only too apparent by his dolorous but obstinate refusal to beg Captain Leycester's pardon. He preferred to slink off in silence to the other end of the room and conceal himself under a sofa, where he remained until Miss Hylton's visitors had taken their leave. Before they did so, they had been cordially invited by Mrs. Lindsay to spend the following Monday and Tuesday nights at the Abbey, in order that they might be saved the very long ride or drive to the

meet which they would otherwise have had to face on the latter day.

And I do hope, Alice,' the good lady added, 'that you will have that vicious and unmannerly cur of yours chained up when Captain Leycester comes again. If he were my dog, he should be poisoned at once.'

Captain Leycester magnanimously declared that he was glad his late assailant did not belong to Mrs. Lindsay. Really I take

it as rather a compliment that Topper should be so jealous of me,' he said, and we shall be friends yet, he and I.'

From beneath the sofa rose a low dissentient growl, which passed unnoticed amid the renewed and valedictory apologies of the two ladies; but the suggested explanation was not disputed by Miss Hylton, who found in it some excuse for subsequently receiving the culprit back into favour. As for Captain Leycester, he was no sooner out of the house than he remarked to his companion Damn that beast!-it's my bridle hand, too! What on earth does a woman want to surround herself with such underbred brutes for?'

'Oh, come; he isn't underbred,' protested Jack Goodwin, who was a scrupulously fair-minded man.

'All right, he's a champion, if you like. He'll have to learn manners, though, when I become his master.'

'I suppose you will be his master some day?' observed Jack meditatively and a little wistfully.

Well, you tell me that I shall. I wish I felt as certain of her taking me as you seem to be that she will. However, I shall know more about it on Monday evening; for I'm getting rather tired of this off and on business. She must have made up her mind, one way or the other, by this time, I should think.'

Captain Leycester expressed himself with a peremptoriness and a touch of acerbity which his friend did not altogether approve; but some allowance had to be made for a wounded man, and for one, too, who, to tell the truth, was not without other reasons for deeming himself ill-used.

'I believe she has made up her mind to take you, old chap,' answered Jack Goodwin. If she hasn't, it is no fault of mine, that's all I can say.'

Assuredly the loyal Jack had nothing for which to reproach himself on that score, nor did Captain Leycester lack such support as the partisanship of Mrs. Lindsay and the dictates of Alice Hylton's own common sense could afford; yet the candid avowal of his sentiments and the direct question which he was enabled to address to the lady of his choice on the following Monday evening, met with a rather ambiguous reply.

'Oh, no; it isn't that I don't care enough for you,' Miss Hylton assured him; I like you quite as much as is necessary—at least, I think I do.

'Well?'

But

'You will think me an idiot, I am afraid; but I was going to say that-Topper doesn't.'

As to the fact that Topper did not like Captain Leycester there could, unfortunately, be no question; whether it was or was not idiotic on Miss Hylton's part to be influenced by the likes and dislikes of a dog, her lover naturally hesitated to pronounce. He only ventured to say, 'You are under the impression that his instinct has detected some latent villainy in my character, then?'

'There is no occasion to use such words as that,' answered the girl, with a slightly embarrassed laugh; but I confess that I do rely a good deal upon Topper's instinct, which I have found to be wonderfully accurate. Oh, well, of course that is nonsense,' she added immediately in an altered tone; what I really mean is that I should like to have a little more time; can you give me three days, or would you rather that I said no at once?'