Coming down the hill immediately behind Sandy Cove at a breakneck scramble, Toozle happened to cross the path by which his mistress had ascended to her tree.  The instant he did so, he came to a halt so sudden that one might have fancied he had been shot.  In another moment he was rushing up the hill in wild excitement, giving an occasional yelp of mingled surprise and joy as he went along.  The footsteps led him a little beyond the tree, and then turned down towards it, so that he had the benefit of the descent in making the final onset.

The moment he came in sight of Alice he began to bark and yelp in such an eager way that the sounds produced might be described as an intermittent scream.  He charged at once with characteristic want of consideration, and, plunging headlong into Alice’s bosom, sought to cover her face with kisses; that is, with licks, that being the well-known canine method of doing the thing!

“O Toozle! how glad, glad, glad, I am to see you! my own darling Toozle!” cried Alice, actually shedding tears.

Toozle screamed with delight.  It was almost too much for him.  Again and again he attempted to lick her face, a familiarity which Alice gently declined to permit; so he was obliged to content himself with her hand.

It has often struck us as surprising, that little dogs—­usually so intelligent and apt to learn in other matters—­should be so dull of apprehension in this.  Toozle had the experience of a lifetime to convince him that Alice objected to have her face licked, and would on no account permit it, although she was extremely liberal in regard to her hands; but Toozle ignored the authority of experience.  He was at this time a dog of mature years; but his determination to kiss Alice was as strong as it had been when, in the tender years of his infancy, he had entertained the mistaken belief that she was his own mother.

He watched every unguarded moment to thrust forward his black, not to say impertinent, little snout; and although often reproved, he still remained unconvinced, resolutely returned to the charge, and was not a bit ashamed of himself.

On the present occasion, Toozle behaved like a canine lunatic, and Alice was beginning to think of exercising a little tender violence in order to restrain his superabundant glee, when another individual appeared on the scene, and for a time, at least, relieved her.

The second comer was our dark friend, Kekupoopi.  She by some mischance had got separated from her young mistress, and immediately went in search of her.  She found her at once, of course; for, as water finds its level, so love finds its object, without much loss of time.

“O Toozle!—­bee! hee!—­am dat you?” exclaimed Poopy, who was as much delighted in her way to see the dog as Alice had been.