Page:Emma Speed Sampson--The shorn lamb.djvu/200

196 the buttonholes in the top of her bonnet! She put up her hand and felt the thick rope of hair. Anyhow, it had made her keep her bonnet on better than ever before. Surely the aunts would approve, even if the uncle found food for merriment in it.

As Doctor passed her she put out a tentative hand to stroke his silken back. He submitted to the caress with lordly indifference, but he did turn his head and look at her with something like toleration in his hazel eyes. She was almost happy. She watched Spot go through his ablutions. Maybe this would be a good time to try to talk to him! He stood with his feet far apart as he leaned over the basin and made a nice gurgly noise down in the water. Then he gave his face a vigorous rubbing on the roller towel.

"Uncle Spot, did you ever see a giraffe drink? He spraddles his legs out just the way you do, because you see his legs are longer than his neck."

Spottswood stopped drying his face for a moment and looked at Rebecca in amazement. What business had she talking to him? Impertinent little minx! Why should she hang around him when he was having his snack? Why should she put her hand on his dog? He resented the fact that Doctor had submitted to the caress