They gathered her up, such as she was, wet and loathsome, and the foreman decided that she should be placed upon the first coal-cart going into town, and that they could stop at the hospital, so that the professor himself might see whether she was worth repairing.

* * * * *

About ten o’clock the merchant’s family began to assemble at the breakfast-table.  Thyra came first.  She hurried up to Trofast, patted and kissed him, and overwhelmed him with words of endearment.

But Trofast did not move his tail, and scarcely raised his eyes.  He kept on licking his fore-paws, which were a little black after the coal.

‘Good gracious, my dear mother!’ cried Miss Thyra; ’Trofast is undoubtedly ill.  Of course he has caught cold in the night; it was really horrid of father.’

But when Waldemar came in, he declared, with a knowing air, that Trofast was affronted.

All three now fell upon him with entreaties and excuses and kind words, but Trofast coldly looked from one to the other.  It was clear that Waldemar was right.

Thyra then ran out for her father, and the merchant came in serious—­somewhat solemn.  They had just told him by telephone from the office how well Trofast had acquitted himself of his task, and, kneeling down on the hearthrug before Trofast, he thanked him warmly for the great service.

This mollified Trofast a good deal.

Still kneeling, with Trofast’s paw in his hand, the merchant now told his family what had occurred during the night.  That the thief was a hardened old woman, one of the very worst kind, who had even—­just imagine it!—­driven a pretty considerable trade in the stolen coal.  She had been cunning enough to bribe the young watch-dog with a dainty piece of bread; but, of course, that was no use with Trofast.

’And that brings me to think how often a certain person, whom I do not wish to name, would rant about it being a shame that a beast should refuse bread, for which many a human being would be thankful.  Do we not now see the good of that?  Through that—­ahem!—­that peculiarity, Trofast was enabled to reveal an abominable crime; to contribute to the just punishment of evildoers, and thus benefit both us and society.’

‘But, father,’ exclaimed Miss Thyra, ’will you not promise me one thing?’

‘What is that, my child?’

’That you will never again require such a service of Trofast.  Rather let them steal a little.’

‘That I promise you, Thyra; and you, too, my brave Trofast,’ said the merchant, rising with dignity.

‘Trofast is hungry,’ said Waldemar, with his knowing air.

‘Goodness, Thyra! fetch his cutlets!’

Thyra was about to rush down into the kitchen, but at that moment Stine came puffing upstairs with them.

* * * * *

Presumably, the professor did not find Mam Hansen worth repairing.  At any rate, she was never seen again, and the children ’flowed quite over.’  I do not know what became of them.