The Drurys lived in a large, white house, with trees all around it, and a garden at the back.  They were rich people and had a great deal of company.  Through the summer I had often seen carriages at the door, and ladies and gentlemen in light clothes walking over the lawn, and sometimes I smelled nice things they were having to eat They did not keep any dogs, nor pets of any kind, so Jim and I never had an excuse to call there.

Jack and I were soon at the front door, and he rang the bell and gave me in charge of the maid who opened it.  The girl listened to his message for Mrs. Drury, then she walked upstairs, smiling and looking at me over her shoulder.

There was a trunk in the upper hall, and an elderly woman was putting things in it.  A lady stood watching her, and when she saw me, she gave a little scream, “Oh, nurse! look at that horrid dog!  Where did he come from?  Put him out, Susan.”

I stood quite still, and the girl who had brought me upstairs, gave her Jack’s message.

“Certainly, certainly,” said the lady, when the maid finished speaking.  “If he is one of the Morris dogs, he is sure to be a well-behaved one.  Tell the little boy to thank his mamma for letting Laura come over, and say that we will keep the dog with pleasure.  Now, nurse, we must hurry; the cab will be here in five minutes.”

I walked softly into a front room, and there I found my dear Miss Laura.  Miss Bessie was with her, and they were cramming things into a portmanteau.  They both ran out to find out how I came there, and just then a gentleman came hurriedly upstairs, and said the cab had come.

There was a scene of great confusion and hurry, but in a few minutes it was all over.  The cab had rolled away, and the house was quiet.

“Nurse, you must be tired, you had better go to bed,” said Miss Bessie, turning to the elderly woman, as we all stood in the hall.  “Susan, will you bring some supper to the dining-room, for Miss Morris and me?  What will you have, Laura?”

“What are you going to have?” asked Miss Laura, with a smile.

“Hot chocolate and tea biscuits.”

“Then I will have the same.”

“Bring some cake too, Susan,” said Miss Bessie, “and something for the dog.  I dare say he would like some of that turkey that was left from dinner.”

If I had had any ears I would have pricked them up at this, for I was very fond of fowl, and I never got any at the Morrises’, unless it might be a stray bone or two.

What fun we had over our supper!  The two girls sat at the big dining table, and sipped their chocolate, and laughed and talked, and I had the skeleton of a whole turkey on a newspaper that Susan spread on the carpet.

I was very careful not to drag it about, and Miss Bessie laughed at me till the tears came in her eyes.  “That dog is a gentleman,” she said; “see how he holds bones on the paper with his paws, and strips the meat off with his teeth.  Oh, Joe, Joe, you are a funny dog!  And you are having a funny supper.  I have heard of quail on toast, but I never heard of turkey on newspaper.”