CHAPTERIII
Itwassuchacharminghome！——mynewone;afinegreathouse，withpictures，anddelicatedecorations，andrichfurniture，andnogloomanywhere，butallthewildernessofdaintycolorslitupwithfloodingsunshine;andthespaciousgroundsaroundit，andthegreatgarden——oh，greensward，andnobletrees，andflowers，noend！AndIwasthesameasamemberofthefamily;andtheylovedme，andpettedme，anddidnotgivemeanewname，butcalledmebymyoldonethatwasdeartomebecausemymotherhadgivenitme——AileenMavourneen.Shegotitoutofasong;andtheGraysknewthatsong，andsaiditwasabeautifulname.
Mrs.Graywasthirty，andsosweetandsolovely，youcannotimagineit;
andSadiewasten，andjustlikehermother，justadarlingslenderlittlecopyofher，withauburntailsdownherback，andshortfrocks;
andthebabywasayearold，andplumpanddimpled，andfondofme，andnevercouldgetenoughofhaulingonmytail，andhuggingme，andlaughingoutitsinnocenthappiness;andMr.Graywasthirty—eight，andtallandslenderandhandsome，alittlebaldinfront，alert，quickinhismovements，business—like，prompt，decided，unsentimental，andwiththatkindoftrim—chiseledfacethatjustseemstoglintandsparklewithfrostyintellectuality！Hewasarenownedscientist.Idonotknowwhatthewordmeans，butmymotherwouldknowhowtouseitandgeteffects.
Shewouldknowhowtodepressarat—terrierwithitandmakealap—doglooksorryhecame.Butthatisnotthebestone;thebestonewasLaboratory.MymothercouldorganizeaTrustonthatonethatwouldskinthetax—collarsoffthewholeherd.Thelaboratorywasnotabook，orapicture，oraplacetowashyourhandsin，asthecollegepresident\'sdogsaid——no，thatisthelavatory;thelaboratoryisquitedifferent，andisfilledwithjars，andbottles，andelectrics，andwires，andstrangemachines;andeveryweekotherscientistscamethereandsatintheplace，andusedthemachines，anddiscussed，andmadewhattheycalledexperimentsanddiscoveries;andoftenIcame，too，andstoodaroundandlistened，andtriedtolearn，forthesakeofmymother，andinlovingmemoryofher，althoughitwasapaintome，asrealizingwhatshewaslosingoutofherlifeandIgainingnothingatall;fortryasImight，Iwasneverabletomakeanythingoutofitatall.
OthertimesIlayonthefloorinthemistress\'swork—roomandslept，shegentlyusingmeforafoot—stool，knowingitpleasedme，foritwasacaress;othertimesIspentanhourinthenursery，andgotwelltousledandmadehappy;othertimesIwatchedbythecribthere，whenthebabywasasleepandthenurseoutforafewminutesonthebaby\'saffairs;
othertimesIrompedandracedthroughthegroundsandthegardenwithSadietillweweretiredout，thenslumberedonthegrassintheshadeofatreewhileshereadherbook;othertimesIwentvisitingamongtheneighbordogs——forthereweresomemostpleasantonesnotfaraway，andoneveryhandsomeandcourteousandgracefulone，acurly—hairedIrishsetterbythenameofRobinAdair，whowasaPresbyterianlikeme，andbelongedtotheScotchminister.
Theservantsinourhousewereallkindtomeandwerefondofme，andso，asyousee，minewasapleasantlife.TherecouldnotbeahappierdogthatIwas，noragratefullerone.Iwillsaythisformyself，foritisonlythetruth：Itriedinallwaystodowellandright，andhonormymother\'smemoryandherteachings，andearnthehappinessthathadcometome，asbestIcould.
Byandbycamemylittlepuppy，andthenmycupwasfull，myhappinesswasperfect.Itwasthedearestlittlewaddlingthing，andsosmoothandsoftandvelvety，andhadsuchcunninglittleawkwardpaws，andsuchaffectionateeyes，andsuchasweetandinnocentface;anditmademesoproudtoseehowthechildrenandtheirmotheradoredit，andfondledit，andexclaimedovereverylittlewonderfulthingitdid.Itdidseemtomethatlifewasjusttoolovelyto——
Thencamethewinter.OnedayIwasstandingawatchinthenursery.
Thatistosay，Iwasasleeponthebed.Thebabywasasleepinthecrib，whichwasalongsidethebed，onthesidenextthefireplace.Itwasthekindofcribthathasaloftytentoveritmadeofgauzystuffthatyoucanseethrough.Thenursewasout，andwetwosleeperswerealone.Asparkfromthewood—firewasshotout，anditlitontheslopeofthetent.Isupposeaquietintervalfollowed，thenascreamfromthebabyawokeme，andtherewasthattentflaminguptowardtheceiling！
BeforeIcouldthink，Isprangtothefloorinmyfright，andinasecondwashalf—waytothedoor;butinthenexthalf—secondmymother\'sfarewellwassoundinginmyears，andIwasbackonthebedagain.
Ireachedmyheadthroughtheflamesanddraggedthebabyoutbythewaist—band，andtuggeditalong，andwefelltothefloortogetherinacloudofsmoke;Isnatchedanewhold，anddraggedthescreaminglittlecreaturealongandoutatthedoorandaroundthebendofthehall，andwasstilltuggingaway，allexcitedandhappyandproud，whenthemaster\'svoiceshouted：
\"Begoneyoucursedbeast！\"andIjumpedtosavemyself;buthewasfuriouslyquick，andchasedmeup，strikingfuriouslyatmewithhiscane，Idodgingthiswayandthat，interror，andatlastastrongblowfelluponmyleftforeleg，whichmademeshriekandfall，forthemoment，helpless;thecamewentupforanotherblow，butneverdescended，forthenurse\'svoicerangwildlyout，\"Thenursery\'sonfire！\"andthemasterrushedawayinthatdirection，andmyotherbonesweresaved.
Thepainwascruel，but，nomatter，Imustnotloseanytime;hemightcomebackatanymoment;soIlimpedonthreelegstotheotherendofthehall，wheretherewasadarklittlestairwayleadingupintoagarretwhereoldboxesandsuchthingswerekept，asIhadheardsay，andwherepeopleseldomwent.Imanagedtoclimbupthere，thenIsearchedmywaythroughthedarkamongthepilesofthings，andhidinthesecretestplaceIcouldfind.Itwasfoolishtobeafraidthere，yetstillIwas;
soafraidthatIheldinandhardlyevenwhimpered，thoughitwouldhavebeensuchacomforttowhimper，becausethateasesthepain，youknow.
ButIcouldlickmyleg，andthatdidsomegood.
Forhalfanhourtherewasacommotiondownstairs，andshoutings，andrushingfootsteps，andthentherewasquietagain.Quietforsomeminutes，andthatwasgratefultomyspirit，forthenmyfearsbegantogodown;andfearsareworsethanpains——oh，muchworse.Thencameasoundthatfrozeme.Theywerecallingme——callingmebyname——huntingforme！