"Well!" said Jack. "If you ain't a soppy bundle! Where _have_ you been?"
"Been to ride," said Flora. "In a blue cart with Mr. Podge."
"Run away?"
"No. Got lost."
"And Towzer found you."
"He did."
She reached over and patted Towzer's cold nose.
"He is a good dog. I like him."
Then out of gratitude to Jack, who was carrying her in his arms, she
added, "I like you too."
"You can sing more than one tune, can't you?" said Jack, laughing.
"Which do you like most now, me or Towzer?"
"Towzer, a little bit; because he _is_ a dog, you know, and you are a
boy."
"A bad boy."
"Not a bad boy."
Flora had suddenly changed her mind; and when Jack opened the big gate
and she had found her dear old home once more, she actually kissed his
grimy face and said she should "'member him long as she lived."
What a commotion he created by walking in, with Flora clinging to his
neck! Charley was the first to cry out, "There she is!" and everybody
flocked to hear all about it. But Flora crept into mamma's lap and had
not a word to say, and all that Jack knew was told in a few words.
"My dog picked her up somewhere and fetched her home," and then Flora
asked for Towzer, who had been shut out, and Charley went out and
invited him in. Inquiries had been made in all directions; but no one
could give any clue to Flora, and papa had gone to the town crier with a
"Lost" notice, describing the little girl and the dress she wore when
she left her home.
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