CHAPTER VI.

"FUZZY."

YAKEMAN at the smithy looked very pleased to see his visitors, especially as their father was

with the children.

“The puppies are getting on finely,” he said. "Two of them are going to their new masters But I've held on to the one as Miss Mary fancied, thinking you'd be looking in some day soon.'

to-morrow.

"We've wanted to come ever so often, Leigh.

"We was waiting for papa, added Mary. "And we didn't come round this way 'cos it made us want the dear little dog so much."

Yakeman listened gravely.

"I thought I hadn't seen you passing the last

few days," he said.

"But I wouldn't have let

the dog go, not without sending up to ask you.'

“Oh, we knowed you'd keep him," said Mary, and then Yakeman led the way round to the side of the house again, where the four puppies were rolling and tumbling about in perfect content, their mother watching their gambols with great pride.

Suddenly a new thought struck Mary.

"Won't her be very unhappy when them all goes away?" she asked Yakeman anxiously. "And won't them cry for their mamma?"

The smith smiled.

"They're getting old enough to do without her now," he said. "But she'll miss them, no doubt, will poor old Beauty," and he patted the retriever's head as he spoke. "It's the way of the world, bain't it, sir?" turning to the children's father. "Dogs and humans. The young ones leave the old ones cheery enough. It's the old ones as it's hard on!"

Mary did not quite understand what he meant, but something made her catch hold of her father's hand. "You won't never let me go away, will you, "Not never, will you?"

papa?" she whispered.

"Not unless you want to go, certainly," said her father, smiling down at her. "But now show me which is the puppy you'd like to have."

Mary looked rather puzzled, and so, though they would not have owned it, were the boys.

"I think," began Leigh, not at all sure of what he was going to say, but just then, luckily, Yakeman came to their help by picking up one of the puppies.

"This here is Miss Mary's one. We've called it hers the missis and I, ever since the last

time you was here."

He gave a little laugh, though he did not say what he was laughing at. To tell the truth, Mrs. Yakeman and he had called the puppy "Miss Mary"!

Mary rubbed her nose, as she had done before, on the puppy's soft curly head.

"It are so sweet," she said. "We're going to call him 'Fuzzy.' But, oh papa!" and her voice began to tremble. "Oh Leigh and Artie, I don't think we should have him if it would make his poor mother unhappy to be leaved all alone."

"It won't be so bad as that, Miss Mary," said the smith, who, though he was such a big man, had a very tender heart, and could not bear to see the little girl's face clouded. "We're going to keep No. 4 for ourselves, and after a day or two Beauty will be quite content with him. You can look in and see for yourselves when you're passing."

"Of course, said Leigh, in his wise tone. "It'll be all right, Mary. And we can bring Fuzzy to see his mother sometimes, to pay her a visit, you know."

Mary's face cleared. Yakeman and Leigh must know best, and papa would not let them have the dog if it was unkind. It was not what she'd like to live in a house across the fields from mamma, only to pay her a morning call now and then. But still, dogs were different, she supposed.

All this time papa had been looking at Fuzzy, as I think we may now begin to call him.

"He's a nice puppy," he said, "a very nice little fellow. Of course, he'll want to be

properly taken care of, and careful training. But

I can trust Mellor you know Mellor, of course,

the coachman?" he went on to the smith. "He's not bad with dogs."

"No, sir, I should say he's very good with 'em," Yakeman replied. "Feedin's a deal to do with it there's a many young dogs spoilt with over feedin'."

"I'll see to that," said Mr. Bertram. "Now, children, we must be moving on, I think."

But the three stood there looking rather strange.

"I thought" began Leigh.

"Won't we" began Artie.

"Oh, papa," began Mary.

"What in the world is the matter?" said their father in surprise. "Aren't you pleased about

the puppy?

to-morrow."

I'll send Mellor to fetch him

"It's just that," said Leigh.

"Yes," said Artie.

"We thought he'd be ours, our very own," said

Mary, at last explaining what they were