"And he is a new one, isn't he?" said Mrs. Montague.

"Yes."

"And that makes "

"Two dogs, a cat, fifteen or twenty rabbits, a rat, about a dozen
canaries, and two dozen goldfish, I don't know how many pigeons,
a few bantams, a guinea pig, and well, I don't think there is
anything more."

They both laughed, and Mrs. Montague said: "You have quite a
menagerie. My father would never allow one of his children to
keep a pet animal. He said it would make his girls rough and noisy
to romp about the house with cats, and his boys would look like
rowdies if they went about with dogs at their heels."

"I have never found that it made my children more rough to play
with their pets," said Mrs. Morris.

"No, I should think not," said the lady, languidly. "Your boys are
the most gentlemanly lads in Fairport, and as for Laura, she is a
perfect little lady. I like so much to have them come and see
Charlie. They wake him up, and yet don't make him naughty."

"They enjoyed their last visit very much," said Mrs. Morris. "By
the way, I have heard them talking about getting Charlie a dog."

"Oh!" cried the lady, with a little shudder, "beg them not to. I
cannot sanction that. I hate dogs."