Moreover there was a sentiment about these things! On the morning after his arrival, visiting the kennels before breakfast, he stood chatting with his head man, and caressing the wet noses of his two favourite pointers,--with something of the feeling of a boy let out of school.

Those pleasant creatures, cowering and quivering with pride against his legs, and turning up at him their yellow Chinese eyes, gave him that sense of warmth and comfort which visits men in the presence of their hobbies.

With this particular pair, inbred to the uttermost, he had successfully surmounted a great risk.

It was now touch and go whether he dared venture on one more cross to the original strain, in the hope of eliminating the last clinging of liver colour.

It was a gamble--and it was just that which rendered it so vastly interesting.
A small voice diverted his attention; he looked round and saw little Ann.