Thentheydiscussedoptics，astheycalledit，andwhetheracertaininjurytothebrainwouldproduceblindnessornot，buttheycouldnotagreeaboutit，andsaidtheymusttestitbyexperimentbyandby;andnexttheydiscussedplants，andthatinterestedme，becauseinthesummerSadieandIhadplantedseeds——Ihelpedherdigtheholes，youknow——andafterdaysanddaysalittleshruboraflowercameupthere，anditwasawonderhowthatcouldhappen;butitdid，andIwishedIcouldtalk——I
　　wouldhavetoldthosepeopleaboutitandshownthenhowmuchIknew，andbeenallalivewiththesubject;butIdidn'tcarefortheoptics;itwasdull，andwhenthecamebacktoitagainitboredme，andIwenttosleep.
　　Prettysoonitwasspring，andsunnyandpleasantandlovely，andthesweetmotherandthechildrenpattedmeandthepuppygood—by，andwentawayonajourneyandavisittotheirkin，andthemasterwasn'tanycompanyforus，butweplayedtogetherandhadgoodtimes，andtheservantswerekindandfriendly，sowegotalongquitehappilyandcountedthedaysandwaitedforthefamily.
　　Andonedaythosemencameagain，andsaid，nowforthetest，andtheytookthepuppytothelaboratory，andIlimpedthree—leggedlyalong，too，feelingproud，foranyattentionshowntothepuppywasapleasuretome，ofcourse.Theydiscussedandexperimented，andthensuddenlythepuppyshrieked，andtheysethimonthefloor，andhewentstaggeringaround，withhisheadallbloody，andthemasterclappedhishandsandshouted：
　　"There，I'vewon——confessit！He'sablindasabat！"
　　Andtheyallsaid：
　　"It'sso——you'veprovedyourtheory，andsufferinghumanityowesyouagreatdebtfromhenceforth，"andtheycrowdedaroundhim，andwrunghishandcordiallyandthankfully，andpraisedhim.
　　ButIhardlysaworheardthesethings，forIranatoncetomylittledarling，andsnuggledclosetoitwhereitlay，andlickedtheblood，anditputitsheadagainstmine，whimperingsoftly，andIknewinmyheartitwasacomforttoitinitspainandtroubletofeelitsmother'stouch，thoughitcouldnotseeme.Thenitdroppeddown，presently，anditslittlevelvetnoseresteduponthefloor，anditwasstill，anddidnotmoveanymore.
　　Soonthemasterstoppeddiscussingamoment，andranginthefootman，andsaid，"Buryitinthefarcornerofthegarden，"andthenwentonwiththediscussion，andItrottedafterthefootman，veryhappyandgrateful，forIknewthepuppywasoutofitspainnow，becauseitwasasleep.Wewentfardownthegardentothefarthestend，wherethechildrenandthenurseandthepuppyandIusedtoplayinthesummerintheshadeofagreatelm，andtherethefootmandugahole，andIsawhewasgoingtoplantthepuppy，andIwasglad，becauseitwouldgrowandcomeupafinehandsomedog，likeRobinAdair，andbeabeautifulsurpriseforthefamilywhentheycamehome;soItriedtohelphimdig，butmylamelegwasnogood，beingstiff，youknow，andyouhavetohavetwo，oritisnouse.WhenthefootmanhadfinishedandcoveredlittleRobinup，hepattedmyhead，andthereweretearsinhiseyes，andhesaid："Poorlittledoggie，yousavedHISchild！"
　　Ihavewatchedtwowholeweeks，andhedoesn'tcomeup！Thislastweekafrighthasbeenstealinguponme.Ithinkthereissomethingterribleaboutthis.Idonotknowwhatitis，butthefearmakesmesick，andI
　　cannoteat，thoughtheservantsbringmethebestoffood;andtheypetmeso，andevencomeinthenight，andcry，andsay，"Poordoggie——dogiveitupandcomehome;don'tbreakourhearts！"andallthisterrifiesmethemore，andmakesmesuresomethinghashappened.AndIamsoweak;
　　sinceyesterdayIcannotstandonmyfeetanymore.Andwithinthishourtheservants，lookingtowardthesunwhereitwassinkingoutofsightandthenightchillcomingon，saidthingsIcouldnotunderstand，buttheycarriedsomethingcoldtomyheart.
　　"Thosepoorcreatures！Theydonotsuspect.Theywillcomehomeinthemorning，andeagerlyaskforthelittledoggiethatdidthebravedeed，andwhoofuswillbestrongenoughtosaythetruthtothem：'Thehumblelittlefriendisgonewheregothebeaststhatperish.'"