What had Mother Carey bought? Ah! Nobody was to know till
Twelfth-day, and then the first tree cut at Belforest would be a
Christmas-tree. Then came a few regrets that everybody had
proclaimed their purchases, and therewith people began to grow weary
and drop asleep. It was by gaslight that they arrived at home and
bundled into the flys that awaited them, and then in the hall at home
came Elvira's cry—-
"Where's my doggie, my Chico?"
"Here; I took him out," said Jock.
"That's not Chico; that's a nasty, horrid, yellow cur. Chico was
black. You naughty boy, Jock, you've been and changed my dog."
"Has Midas changed him to gold?" cried Babie.
"Ah," said Bobus, meaningly.
"You've done it then, Bobus! You've put something to him."
"_I_ haven't," said Bobus, "but he's been licking himself all the way
home. Well, we all know green is the sacred colour of the Grand
Turk."
"No! You don't mean it!" said Allen, catching up the dog and holding
him to the lamp, while Janet observed that he was a sort of
chameleon, for his body, which had been black, was now yellow, and
his chops which had been tan, had become black.
Elvira began to cry angrily, still uncomprehending, and fancying
Bobus and Jock had played her a trick and changed her dog; Allen
abused the horrid little brute, and the more horrid man who had
deceived him; and Armine began pitying and caressing him, seriously
distressed lest the poor little beast should have poisoned himself.
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