Such a dog we should prize.

Don't you think so, Ralph ?" "Yes," said he, and went on taking up forkloads of hay and thrusting them into the hole.

He was wondering if this were a good time to tell Miriam that that very morning Dora Bannister had been talking about there being no dog at Cobhurst, and had asked him if he would like to have one; for if he would, she had a very handsome black setter, which had been given to her when it was a little puppy, and of which she was very fond, but which had now grown too big and lively to be cooped up in the yard of their house.

He had said that he would be charmed to have the dog, and had intended to tell Miriam about it, but now a most excellent opportunity had come to do so, he hesitated.

Miriam's soul did not seem to incline toward their late visitor, and perhaps she might not care for a gift from her.