“Oh, you beautiful Prince Jan!” she cried, throwing her arms about his neck and squeezing him tightly.  “I love you!”

Jan’s tongue caressed her hands, touched her cheek, and his body squirmed and twisted, then he flopped on the ground and rolled on his back, waving his paws to show that he loved her.  Obeying her call, he trotted be sidle her, past strange trees growing on stretches of fresh, green grass.  Jan looked about him and saw that this new stuff that was so soft when he walked upon it, reached down to the blue water, and that water sparkled as far as he could see, and then it seemed to become a part of the sky.  Wonderful things that gave out delicate perfume formed brilliant patches about the house and even clung high up on the walls.  Later, he learned these things were flowers, and when the wind blew softly, they bent and swayed like lovely ladies in their prettiest gowns, bowing and dancing.  From the thick leaves of the trees floated songs of hidden birds.  Jan’s head turned quickly from side to side, trying to see everything and understand what he saw, but the most wonderful thing to him was the dear little mistress, who talked to him as if she knew he understood her words.

All the people in the big house were very kind to Jan, and he soon grew accustomed to his new home.  His only duty was to take care of Elizabeth, who was so gentle and loving that he was glad and proud to guard her.  Wherever she went, he went, too.

The governess heard Elizabeth’s lessons out on the lawn under the shade of an orange tree, and Jan kept close at hand, watching the little girl’s face, and waiting patiently for the lesson to end.  Then a pony was led to the front door, and as Elizabeth rode over the firm sand of the beach, Jan raced beside her, barking or rushing out to fight back a wave that was sneaking too close.  He loved the water, and the best time of all, he thought, was when his mistress took her swimming lesson and he could plough through the waves beside her.  Often she would lie on her back in the hissing, white surf, holding to Jan’s collar until they both landed on the warm sand.  Sometimes the two of them would dig a big hole, and the dog would scrunch into it, while she buried him until only his nose and eyes could be seen.  Jan was so happy that at times he forgot the Hospice and the work his mother had told him he must do.  When he did remember it, he would puzzle over and over, “But, how can I save people’s lives here, where there is never any snow, and every one is happy and safe?”

Christmas came, and there was a glittering tree with lights and beautiful things on it.  All the family patted Jan when Elizabeth took down a handsome collar.

“This is for you, Jan,” she said.

As she fastened it about his neck, he thought of the big room at the Hospice, but he knew, now, no collar of his would ever hang there.  Suddenly, all the old longing for the Hospice dogs and the work made him walk slowly out of the house and lie down on the front porch, where he could see the blue ocean dancing in the warm sunshine, the soft, green grass, and the beautiful flowers.