Soon she heard footsteps returning, and Anne’s voice exclaiming in delight.

“Oh, she’s sweet! Oh, what a darling! Sally, you’re a pet! Julian, Dick, Aunt Fanny — do come and see Berta’s dog!”

Everyone came into the room, led by Berta and Anne. Berta held the dog in her arms.

It was a tiny black poodle, whose woolly fur was cut away here and there to give it a very fashionable look. Sally was certainly an attractive little thing! Her sharp little nose sniffed all the time she was carried into the room, and her quick little eyes looked everywhere.

Berta put her down, and the little poodle stood there, poised on her dainty feet like a ballet dancer about to perform. Everyone but George exclaimed in delight.

“She’s a poppet!”

“Sally! Sally, you’re a pet!”

“Oh, a poodle! I do love poodles! They look so knowing.”

Timmy stood by George, sniffing hard to get the smell of this new dog. George had her hand on his collar in case he sprang. His tail was as stiff as a ramrod.

The poodle suddenly saw him. She stared at him out of bright little eyes, quite unafraid. Then she pulled away from Berta’s hand and trotted right over to Timmy, her funny little tail wagging merrily.

Timmy backed a little in surprise. The poodle danced all round him on her toes, and gave a little whimpering bark, which said as plainly as possible, “I want to play with you!”

Timmy sprang. He leapt in the air and came down with a thud on his big paws, and the little poodle dodged. Timmy’s tail began to wag wildly. He sprang again in play, and almost knocked the little poodle over. He barked as if to say “Sorry, I didn’t mean that!”

Then he and the poodle played a most ridiculous game of dodge and run, and although one or two chairs went flying nobody minded — they were all laughing so much at the sight of the quick little poodle leading Timmy such a dance.

At last Sally was tired and sat down in a corner. Timmy pranced about in front of her, showing off. Then he went up to her and sniffed her nose. He licked it gently, and then lay down in front of her, gazing at her adoringly.

Anne gave a little squeal of laughter. “He’s gazing at Sally exactly as he gazes at you, George!” she cried.

But George was not at all pleased. In fact she was quite astounded. To think that Timmy should welcome another dog! To think that he should behave like this when she had told him to do the opposite!

“Aren’t they sweet together?” said Berta, pleased. “I thought Timmy would like Sally. Of course Sally is a pedigree dog, and cost a lot of money — and Timmy’s only a mongrel. I expect he thinks she’s wunnerful.”

“Oh, Tim may be a mongrel, but he’s absolutely wunnerful too,” said Dick, hastily, pronouncing the word like Berta, to try and get a laugh. He saw George’s scowl, and knew how cross she felt at hearing her beloved Timmy compared with a pedigree dog. “He’s a magnificent fellow, aren’t you, Timmy?” went on Dick. “Sally may be a darling, but you’re worth more than a hundred darlings, aren’t you?”