The parent demanded to know what the blazes they were making the kid
howl for. It was explained in many words that the infernal kid wanted to
introduce a disreputable dog into the family.
A family council was held. On this depended the dog's fate, but he in no
way heeded, being busily engaged in chewing the end of the child's
dress.
The affair was quickly ended. The father of the family, it appears, was
in a particularly savage temper that evening, and when he perceived that
it would amaze and anger everybody if such a dog were allowed to remain,
he decided that it should be so. The child, crying softly, took his
friend off to a retired part of the room to hobnob with him, while the
father quelled a fierce rebellion of his wife. So it came to pass that
the dog was a member of the household.
He and the child were associated together at all times save when the
child slept. The child became a guardian and a friend. If the large folk
kicked the dog and threw things at him, the child made loud and violent
objections. Once when the child had run, protesting loudly, with tears
raining down his face and his arms outstretched, to protect his friend,
he had been struck in the head with a very large saucepan from the hand
of his father, enraged at some seeming lack of courtesy in the dog. Ever
after, the family were careful how they threw things at the dog.
Moreover, the latter grew very skilful in avoiding missiles and feet.
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