She intended to go into the
reading-room, but in her confusion turned to the left instead of the
right, and ran against some one coming out of the hotel office. It was
the Major.
"Oh, I beg your pahdon!" she cried, blushing still more. From the
twinkle in his eye she was sure that he had witnessed her mortifying
encounter with the musical chair. But his first words made her forget
her embarrassment. He spoke in the best of English, but with a slight
accent that Lloyd thought very odd and charming.
"Ah, it is Mr. Sherman's little daughter. He told me last night that you
had come to Switzerland because it was a land of heroes, and he was sure
that you would be especially interested in mine. So come, Hero, my brave
fellow, and be presented to the little American lady. Give her your paw,
sir!"
He stepped aside to let the great creature past him, and Lloyd uttered
an exclamation of delight, he was so unusually large and beautiful. His
curly coat of tawny yellow was as soft as silk, and a great ruff of
white circled his neck like a collar. His breast was white, too, and his
paws, and his eyes had a wistful, human look that went straight to
Lloyd's heart. She shook the offered paw, and then impulsively threw her
arms around his neck, exclaiming, "Oh, you deah old fellow! I can't help
lovin' you. You're the beautifulest dog I evah saw!"
[Illustration: "HE STEPPED ASIDE TO LET THE GREAT CREATURE PAST HIM"]
He understood the caress, if not the words, for he reached up to touch
her cheek with his tongue, and wagged his tail as if he were welcoming a
long-lost friend.
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