Gregoryfelthemustsustaintheconversation。Theonlythinghecouldthinkofwastoreciteapieceofpoetry。Heknewhehadlearntmanyaboutlove；buttheonlythingthatwouldcomeintohismindnowwasthe\"BattleofHohenlinden，\"and\"Notadrumwasheard，\"neitherofwhichseemedtobeardirectlyonthesubjectonhand。
ButunexpectedreliefcametohimfromDoss，who，toodeeplylostincontemplationofhiscrevice，wassurprisedbythesuddendescentofthestoneLyndall’sfoothadloosened，which，rollingagainsthislittlefrontpaw，carriedawayapieceofwhite—skin。Dossstoodonthreelegs，holdingupthepawwithanexpressionofextremeself—commiseration；hethenproceededtohopslowlyupwardinsearchofsympathy。
\"Youhavehurtthatdog，\"saidGregory。
\"HaveI？\"sherepliedindifferently，andre—openedthebook，asthoughtoresumeherstudyoftheplay。
\"He’sanasty，snappishlittlecur！\"saidGregory，calculatingfromhermannerthattheremarkwouldbeendorsed。\"Hesnappedatmyhorse’stailyesterday，andnearlymadeitthrowme。Iwonderhismasterdidn’ttakehim，insteadofleavinghimheretobeanuisancetoallofus！\"