Page:Anna Chapin--Half a dozen boys.djvu/100

88 Bessie’s errand was quickly accomplished, for Fuzz was testing the hardness of the front  door, and it seemed prudent to withdraw before  he forced a passage through one of the panels. So, promising to come down again the next afternoon, to superintend the moving, the two  cousins took their departure.

The next afternoon saw Fred settled in the Carters’ parlor, with Fuzz asleep at his feet. The little animal, after his first resentment of this intrusion on the family circle, seemed to  realize that Fred needed his especial care and  protection. He attached himself to the boy's side, whining gently for attention, and occasionally giving a pleading scratch with his little  paw, when the desired petting failed to be  given. His snappish ways were laid aside, and he even allowed Dominie Sampson, the collie,  to come and rub against Fred, without giving  vent to a single snarl.

When the carriage stopped at the door, and Bess had led the boy into the house, Mrs. Carter had met him with a motherly kindness that made him feel at home with her at once. Fred could not see the tears that came into her