It was a beautiful, intelligent animal, and had soft eyes like a woman, and by the way he wagged his tail and licked the hand that fondled his glossy head I saw he was devoted to his master.
Just then I encountered a swift, searching glance from the stranger, which rather surprised me.

He had looked at me, as he spoke, in an indifferent way; but this second look was a little perplexing; it was as though he had suddenly recognised me, and that the fact amused him; and yet we had never met before,--it was such an uncommon face, so singular altogether, that I could never have forgotten it.
I grew irritated without reason, for how could a stranger recognise me?
Happily the lights from the station flashed before my eyes at that moment, and I began nodding and smiling towards a corner by the bookstall, where a felt hat and brown head were all that I could see of Uncle Max.
'Well, here you are, Ursula, punctual to a minute,' exclaimed Max, as he shook hands.

'Halloo, Hamilton, where did you spring from ?' going to the carriage door to speak to my fellow-passenger.

I was so provoked at this, fearing an introduction, for Max was such a friendly soul, that I went to the luggage-van and began counting my boxes, and Max did not hurry himself to look after me.
'Now, then,' he observed cheerily, when he condescended to join me, 'is your luggage all right?
Do you mean all those traps are yours?
Bless me, Ursula, what will Mrs.Barton say?
Put them on the fly, you fellows, and be sharp about it.

Come along, child; it is pelting cats and dogs, if you know what that means: you have a wet welcome to Heathfield.' I took the news philosophically, and assured him it did not matter in the least.