One of the dogs now approached and gravely laid its nose on Nan's knee,
gazing up at her with searching soft eyes. The older woman cried out
scandalized, but Nan shook her head, and patted the beast's nose.

"You like?" asked the woman.

"Why, you do talk English!" cried Nan.

But either these two words were all the woman had, or she was unwilling to
adventure further.

"You like?" she repeated again, after a moment, and then, observing Nan's
interest, she uttered a command to one of the numerous ragged small boys
standing about. The urchin darted away, to return after a moment with a
basket, which he emptied on the ground. Four fuzzy puppies rolled out.

"Oh, the darlings!" cried Nan.

The little animals proceeded at once to roll one another over, growling
fiercely, charging uncertainly about, gazing indeterminately through their
blue infantile eyes. The mother left her position at Nan's knee to hover
over them; turning them over with her nose, licking them, skipping nimbly
sidewise when they charged down upon her with an idea of nourishment.

Nan was enchanted. She left the bench to stoop to their level, tumbling
them over on their backs; playfully boxing their ears, working them up to a
wild state of yapping enthusiasm.

"The little darlings!" she cried; "just see their fat little tummies! And
their teeth are just like needles. No, no, you mustn't! You'll tear my