Caroline herself expected to have heard that he was dead the next
morning, and would have felt more compassion than regret; but, to her
surprise and Allen's chagrin, Chico made his appearance, very
rhubarb-coloured and perfectly well.
"I think," said Elvira, "I will give Chico to grandpapa, for a nice
London present."
Everybody burst out laughing at this piece of generosity, and though
the young lady never quite understood what amused them, and Allen
heartily wished Chico among the army of dogs at River Hollow, he did
somehow or other remain at the Folly, and, after the fashion of dogs,
adopted Jock as the special object of his devotion.
Ellen came in, expecting to regale her eyes with the newest fashions.
Or were they all coming down from the dressmaker?
"I had no time to be worried with dressmakers," said Caroline.
"I thought you went there while the girls were going about with Mrs.
Acton."
"Indeed no. I had just got my new bonnet for the winter."
"But!"
"And _indeed_, I have not inherited any more heads."
Ellen sighed at the impracticability of her sister-in-law and the
blindness of fortune. But nobody could sigh long in the face of that
Twelfth-day Christmas-tree. What need be said of it but that each
member of the house of Brownlow, and each of its dependents, obtained
the very thing that the bright-eyed fairy of the family had guessed
would be most acceptable.
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