John said not another word, but rushed up stairs and threw the street-door wide open. In my rapture at meeting him I forgot all ceremony; and standing bolt upright on my hind-legs, with my fore-paws on his shoulders, I licked his face all over. But he was too glad to see me to take offence at my familiarity, and patted my head and returned my caresses with cordiality equal to my own. At first he did not see my little fellow-traveller, who, in her modest reluctance to be intrusive, held back during the rough greetings between John and me. But in proper time she felt it due to herself to come forward and assert her presence; so, setting her tail bolt upright like a standard, she began pacing softly backwards and forwards, purring affectionately, and rubbing herself against John's legs at every turn. "Well, Pussy," said John, as he stooped to stroke her head, "it would take a good many human creatures to surprise me as much as you two dumb animals have done. But come in. Come, Captain, my boy; come, little Puss." So saying, he ushered us across the hall to our master's study, and tapped at the door. "Come in," called our master. John opened the door, and stood there without speaking a word, while Puss and I walked forwards to our master's chair, she purring and I wagging my tail as usual, expecting him to say something civil, but not prepared for astonishment in our wise master. I thought we had left all that sort of thing behind with Peggy. But my master looked up and down, at John and us, us and John again, several times in silence. At last he said, "It is the most extraordinary thing I ever saw. How and when did they come?" "Not five minutes ago, sir," answered John; "both together, as you see; and to judge from their dusty look, they must have walked all the way." "No doubt," replied my master. "On what day did we miss the dog?" "Four days ago, sir, after I told you how he was moping. He must have found his way all alone to the Manor, and brought the other back with him. It beats every thing that ever _I_ heard." "He must, indeed. Wonderful!" said my master. "To be sure I did," thought I. "Where is the wonder?" But as we were very hungry, we left John and our master to express their surprise to each other, while we turned our steps towards the kitchen. Even there, before we got any dinner, we were doomed to encounter a sharp fire of exclamations from the servants; and really such incessant expressions of amazement began to be almost mortifying. Approbation is pleasant enough, but astonishment gives the idea that people had not thought one capable of even one's own little good deeds. However, we bore it all with good humour, and were soon caressed and fed to our complete satisfaction.