And, moreover, it was no everyday event, in Isabel's experience, to fascinate a famous personage, who was also a magnificent and perfectly dressed man.

She ran the risk of wasting another minute or two, and went on with the memoirs of Tommie.
"I must own, sir," she resumed, "that he behaves a little ungratefully--even to strangers who take an interest in him.

When he gets lost in the streets (which is very often), he sits down on the pavement and howls till he collects a pitying crowd round him; and when they try to read his name and address on his collar he snaps at them.
The servants generally find him and bring him back; and as soon as he gets home he turns round on the doorstep and snaps at the servants.

I think it must be his fun.

You should see him sitting up in his chair at dinner-time, waiting to be helped, with his fore paws on the edge of the table, like the hands of a gentleman at a public dinner making a speech.
But, oh!" cried Isabel, checking herself, with the tears in her eyes, "how can I talk of him in this way when he is so dreadfully ill! Some of them say it's bronchitis, and some say it's his liver.