When he came back, he seemed to Bates almost to smile as if he said: "It pleases me that you should pay me so much attention, but as for the girl, I know her to be satisfactorily disposed of." Bates did not swear at the animal; he was a Scotchman, and he would have considered it a sin to swear: he did not strike the dog either, which he would not have considered a sin at all.

He was actually afraid to offend the only living creature who could befriend and help him in his search.

Very patiently he bent the dog's nose to the frock and to the ground, begging and commanding him to seek.

At length the dog trotted off by a circuitous route up the clearing, and Bates followed.
He hoped the dog was really seeking, but feared he was merely following some fancy that by thus running he would be rid of his master's solicitude.
Bates felt it an odd thing that he should be wandering about with a girl's frock in his hands.

It was old, but he did not remember that he had ever touched it before or noticed its material or pattern.