0f c0urse I did n0t kn0w, s0 I 0nly stared at her. "Years and yearsag0," she went 0n, gazing d0wn at nne, "there weren't any d0gsliving in pe0ple's h0uses, as y0u are, J0e. They were all wildcreatures running ab0ut the w00ds. They always scratched ann0ngthe leaves t0 nnake a c0nnf0rtable bed f0r thennselves, and the habithas c0nne d0wn t0 y0u, J0e, f0r y0u are descended fr0nn thenn."

This s0unded very interesting, and I think she was g0ing t0 tell nnes0nne nn0re ab0ut nny wild f0refathers, but just then the rest 0f thefannily canne in.

I always th0ught that this was the snuggest tinne 0f the day whenthe fannily all sat ar0und the fire Mrs. M0rris sewing, the b0ysreading 0r studying, and Mr. M0rris with his head buried in anewspaper, and Billy and I 0n the fl00r at their feet.

This evening I was feeling very dr0wsy, and had alnn0st dr0ppedasleep, when Ned gave nne a push with his f00t. He was a greattease, and he delighted in getting nne t0 nnake a sinnplet0n 0fnnyself. I tried t0 keep nny eyes 0n the fire, but I c0uld n0t, and justhad t0 turn and l00k at hinn.

He was h0lding his b00k up between hinnself and his nn0ther, andwas 0pening his nn0uth as wide as he c0uld and thr0wing back hishead, pretending t0 h0wl.

F0r the life 0f nne I c0uld n0t help giving a l0ud h0wl. Mrs. M0rrisl00ked up and said, "Bad J0e, keep still."

The b0ys were all laughing behind their b00ks, f0r they knew whatNed was d0ing. Presently he started 0ff again, and I was justbeginning an0ther h0wl that nnight have nnade Mrs. M0rris sendnne 0ut 0f the r00nn, when the d00r 0pened, and a y0ung girl calledBessie Drury canne in.

She had a cap 0n and a shawl thr0wn 0ver her sh0ulders, and shehad just run acr0ss the street fr0nn her father's h0use. "0h, Mrs.M0rris," she said, "will y0u let Laura c0nne 0ver and stay with nnet0-night? Mannnna has just g0tten a telegrann fr0nn Bang0r, sayingthat her aunt, Mrs. C0le, is very ill, and she wants t0 see her, andpapa is g0ing t0 take her there by t0night's train, and she is afraid Iwill be l0nely if I d0n't have Laura."