[Diana of the Crossways by George Meredith]@TWC D-Link bookDiana of the Crossways CHAPTER XIII 24/24
He arrived one morning at Diana's lodgings, with a soldier to lead him, and a card to introduce:--the Hercules of dogs, a very ideal of the species, toweringly big, benevolent, reputed a rescuer of lives, disdainful of dog-fighting, devoted to his guardian's office, with a majestic paw to give and the noblest satisfaction in receiving caresses ever expressed by mortal male enfolded about the head, kissed, patted, hugged, snuggled, informed that he was his new mistress's one love and darling. She despatched a thrilling note of thanks to Lord Larrian, sure of her touch upon an Irish heart. The dog Leander soon responded to the attachment of a mistress enamoured of him.
'He is my husband,' she said to Emma, and started a tear in the eyes of her smiling friend; 'he promises to trust me, and never to have the law of me, and to love my friends as his own; so we are certain to agree.' In rain, snow, sunshine, through the parks and the streets, he was the shadow of Diana, commanding, on the whole, apart from some desperate attempts to make him serve as introducer, a civilized behaviour in the legions of Cupid's footpads.
But he helped, innocently enough, to create an enemy..
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