“Not so queer. Wait, I will show you. Stand where you are and you shall behold.” He scrambled down the other side of the wall while Lucie stood expectantly. Presently above the wall appeared first a pair of ears, then two bright eyes, then the entire head of a very alert and inquisitive little dog, which looked around interestedly. “O, Victor,” exclaimed Lucie, “what a darling!” “Speak, Pom Pom,” said Victor over the wall, and a quick sharp bark from Pom Pom replied. Victor’s head again appeared above the vines. He took the little dog under his arm. “And you are going to give Annette that adorable little dog,” said Lucie. “I was going to give it to her, but now I am not permitted to do so.” “Then shall you take it to camp as a mascot?” “I thought of doing that, but I do not wish him killed nor left without a master. You see, he belonged to my sister who died two years ago. She charged me to see that he was always well cared for, and who can tell what would happen to him in a camp?” “He is certainly a darling,” repeated Lucie, standing on tiptoe that her fingers might touch the cold nose of the little dog who licked her fingers daintily. “See, Victor, he makes friends with me at once.” “Would you like to have him?” asked Victor suddenly. “O, Victor, I would, I truly would.” “Then he is yours.” “O, but--” “Your mother will permit?” “I think so. I am sure she will.” “Yet we would better ask.” Paying no heed to the flowers she had dropped in her effort to reach the dog, Lucie turned to run back to her mother. “Mamma, Mamma,” she cried as she burst into the room, “that Victor is there with a dog, so darling a dog as you never saw, so affectionate, so intelligent, and this dog is mine if you give me permission to keep him.” “But why you, my daughter?” asked her mother. “Because, you see, it is this way. It is Victor Guerin, of course you know, Annette’s cousin who comes so often. Very well, he brings this dog to Annette. She is not at home, has gone who knows where, and her grandmother, who does not like dogs, refuses to allow Victor to leave this precious little creature.” “But why does Victor wish to give it away?” “O, I forgot to say that it is because next month he becomes eighteen and then he can enlist in the army.” “That lad?” “He is young, is he not? Still there are others as young and he is mad to go. This dog, you see, belonged to his sister who died, and he wants to place it where it will have good care.” “I see. Very well, you may take it on one condition, that after the war you will give it again to Victor if he wishes it.” “Yes, yes, mamma, I will.” “But what of Mousse?” “O, Mousse!” Lucie looked uncertain. “I will ask Victor to help me to make those two to become friends. On his part he can charge Pom Pom not to hurt Mousse and I will make Mousse understand. He may not at once, but he will in time. I will go now to bring Pom Pom to show you.”