Said Tellydeb to himself: “Now I’ll go home and show my wife what a surprising gift I have acquired.” So he left the garden; and not long afterward old Tallydab, the lord high steward, came walking down the path, followed by his little dog Ruffles. I am not certain whether it was because his coat was so shaggy or his temper so uncertain that Tallydab’s dog was named Ruffles; but the name fitted well both the looks and the disposition of the tiny animal. Nevertheless, the lord high steward was very fond of his dog, which followed him everywhere except to the king’s council-chamber; and often the old man would tell Ruffles his troubles and worries, and talk to the dog just as one would to a person. To-day, as they came slowly down the garden-walk, Tallydab noticed a splendid cloak lying upon the path. “How very beautiful!” he exclaimed, as he stooped to pick it up. “I have never seen anything like this since the Princess Fluff first rode into Nole beside her brother the king. Isn’t it a lovely cloak, Ruffles?” The dog gave a subdued yelp and wagged his stubby tail. “How do I look in it, Ruffles?” continued the lord high steward, wrapping the folds of the magic cloak about him; “how do I look in such gorgeous apparel?” The dog stopped wagging its tail and looked up at its master earnestly. “How do I look?” again said Tallydab. “I declare, I wish you could talk!” “You look perfectly ridiculous,” replied the dog, in a rather harsh voice. The lord high steward jumped nearly three feet in the air, so startled was he by Ruffles’s reply. Then he bent down, a hand on each knee, and regarded the dog curiously. “I thought, at first, you had spoken!” said he. “What caused you to change your mind?” asked Ruffles, peevishly. “I _did_ speak—I _am_ speaking. Can’t you believe it?” The lord high steward drew a deep sigh of conviction. [Illustration: “‘YOU LOOK PERFECTLY RIDICULOUS!’ REPLIED THE DOG.”] “I believe it!” he made answer. “I have always declared you were a wonderful dog, and now you prove I am right. Why, you are the only dog I ever heard of who could talk!” “Except in fairy tales,” said Ruffles, calmly. “Don’t forget the fairy tales.” “I don’t forget,” replied Tallydab. “But this isn’t a fairy tale, Ruffles. It’s real life in the kingdom of Noland.” “To be sure,” answered Ruffles. “But see here, my dear master: now that I am, at last, able to talk, please allow me to ask you for something decent to eat. I’d like a good meal for once, just to see what it is like.” “A good meal!” exclaimed the steward. “Why, my friend, don’t I give you a big bone every day?” “You do,” said the dog; “and I nearly break my teeth on it, trying to crack it to get a little marrow. Whatever induces people to give their dogs bones instead of meat?” “Why, I thought you liked bones!” protested Tallydab, sitting on the bench and looking at his dog in astonishment.