Wilhelm had taken him on his knee, but the lively child would not keep quiet for long. He jumped down and hopped about in front of his godfather and chattered away. "I say, Onkelchen, you have just come in time for my birthday, haven't you?" Wilhelm had not thought of it. "When is your birthday, my boy?" he asked, rather crestfallen. "Why, don't you know? It is the day after to-morrow. And what have you brought me?" He did not wait for an answer, having caught sight, at that moment, of Fido, who, shy as all dogs are in a strange place and among strange people, had crept away under a table, and sat there very still with his eyes firmly fixed on Wilhelm. "A dog! A spitz!" Willy shrieked with joy. "Is he for me, Onkelchen?" He rushed at Fido, took hold of him by the paw, and dragged him out. Malvine cried anxiously: "Let him go, Willy!" But Wilhelm reassured her. "He won't hurt him, he is quite gentle." Fido allowed himself to be dragged without much resistance into the middle of the room, only turning his head away nervously and eying the child askance, as if doubtful as to his intentions. But when Willy began to pat and stroke him kindly, and set him on his hind legs in the first position for begging, Fido realized that no harm was going to befall him, and attached himself instantly to the new friend with that easy confidence which was this sociable creature's great fault of character. He fell to wagging his bushy tail in a highly expressive manner, tried to lick Willy's rosy face, and was altogether so overcome by pleasing emotions that he got a severe attack of coughing, sneezing, and snorting, and Willy exclaimed: "My Spitz has caught a cold on the journey. We must give him some black-currant tea, mother!" The boy took a great delight in the dog, playing with him the whole time of Wilhelm's visit, feeding him at dinner, and even wanted to make him drink beer, which Fido steadfastly refused to do, and was much disappointed when, at leaving, Wilhelm prepared to take the dog with him. "Didn't you bring him for me?" he asked with a pout. Wilhelm consoled him by promising that he should see Fido every day, and solemnly transferred to him all legal rights to the animal. On these conditions Willy was content that Fido should go on living with Wilhelm, and that he should come frequently on a starring tour, as it were, to the Carlstrasse.