Page:Piccino and Other Child Stories (1897).djvu/73

Rh son. "He never did such a thing before. He must have sniffed out the child. He has been sleeping with him all night."

"Sleeping with him!" exclaimed Lady Aileen. She stepped into the bedroom and stood for a moment gazing at Piccino.

The dog had been both muddy and dusty. Both Piccino and the bed revealed unmistakable signs of the fact.

"Dear me!" said her ladyship. "Nicholson, take him at once and wash him."

And so he was taken again into the blue and white porcelain bathroom. He could not believe the evidence of his senses when Nicola turned the silver things again, and the streams came rushing forth. He stood and looked at her, quaking. And she came and took off his fantastic nightgown as she had taken off his rags the night before. And she lifted him up and put him into the deep water again, and soaped and splashed and washed him almost as hard as she had done it the first time.

He began to feel stunned and dazed. He did not scream or fight or struggle. He simply gave himself up and stared into space. Moment by moment Ceriani removed itself farther and farther. The dog had brought it nearer, but the dog had been torn away from him. And here he was in the water, being scrubbed once more.