"Heavens!" she exclaimed, "you're back early. Have you changed your mind again?" "Yep," Winnie said. "I decided to come back home, after all." She smiled. "I'm glad," she told him. "I couldn't make out why you were so keen to go back to Hartford so soon after you got out. You come on in, darling, and Myrtle and I will take care of you. Gracious! There's blood on your cheek. Did you hurt yourself?" Her voice was warm and loving and made my hair rise slightly. If he tried any monkey-business with her, I'd rip his throat out. I growled. "Oh, good!" she laughed. "You got Ponto. Did he have a nice honeymoon, poor darling? Is Dalrymple satisfied? Would you like to put in for one of the pups?" I growled again. She laughed. "Oh, Winnie, he looks so shattered. He--what _did_ happen to your head, darling?" He grinned. "We almost had an accident. I was headed towards the Parkway when a car backed out. We bumped into an apple-tree. No harm done but I was knocked out for a few minutes and I guess it must have shaken me up." She lifted her face to his and kissed him until I could feel thick, hot rage mount inside my throat and force itself out in a deep rumbling growl. "Look," she said, "he's jealous. Poor Ponto!" And she kneeled beside me, put her arm around my neck and pressed my head affectionately. "There!" she said briskly. "You're a good dog. You're my Ponto and I'll take care of you." Tompkins glowered at me and her. "Stop driveling over that damn dog," he said, "and come on into the house." Germaine gave me a farewell pat on the head. "He's such a good dog," she announced, "and now that he's been properly married he'll settle down, I hope. I've been quite worried over the way he's been acting. But it's all right now, Ponto, isn't it? Was your girl-friend nice, old boy? Huh? Are you happy?" I tried to explain things but all that came to my lips was a series of whines and growls. "Come along, Jimmie," Tompkins insisted. "I'm cold. Damn it all! I've had a shock and all you can think of doing is to slobber over a dog. Let him have a run." So she got off her knees and followed him obediently into the house. I sat for a moment, pondering my predicament.