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！