“Would we have bad luck if we didn’t?” asked Bunny.

“Not at all.  But some persons, like Mary, believe in them; and Mary is very fond of us.  Even if we do not believe in some of the things those we like believe in, as long as it does no harm to our beliefs, we can do them to please a friend.”

Even Mr. Brown, because he liked Mary, went in and sat down for a minute with the others.

“Now you’ve done away with the bad luck,” said the cook with a smile.  “What was it you came back for?”

“Splash,” answered Bunny.

“He didn’t come with us,” added Sue.

“Well, it’s no wonder, the funny way he’s cuttin’ up with that dog next door,” said Mary.

“What did he do?” asked Bunny.  “Was it funny?  Please tell us, Mary.”

“Well, it might have been funny for him, but it wasn’t for me,” said the cook, though she could not help smiling.  “The two dogs was playin’ tag on the lawn.  I had some napkins spread out on the grass to bleach, and what did that dog Dix do but run down in the brook, and then come back with his feet all mud and run over my napkins.  Sure, I had to wash ’em all again.  That’s what them two dogs did.  The bad luck was just startin’ in when you come back, an’ it’s good you did, to sit down a bit an’ take it off.”

“But we must get on again,” said Mr. Brown.  “So hurry, Bunny and Sue.  Find Splash.  If he’s muddy make him swim through the brook and clean himself off.  A run along the sunny road will soon dry him.”

“But don’t let him splash your clean clothes, children,” called their mother after them, as the two ran off together to find the missing dog.

“I hear them barking!” called Bunny, as he and his sister hurried toward the end of the yard.

“So do I.”  Then, a moment later, the little girl added:  “There they are!” and she pointed to the two dogs playing on the green lawn not far from a little brook that ran through Mr. Brown’s grounds.

“Here, Splash!  Splash!” called Bunny.

The dogs stopped their playing, and looked toward the children.  As soon as Splash saw his little master and mistress he came rushing toward them as fast as he could.

“Don’t let him jump on me and get my dress muddy!” cried Sue.  “He’s been in the mud just awful!”

“So he has,” said Bunny Brown.  “Down, Splash!  Down!” he called, as the dog neared Sue.  Splash made all the signs he knew to show how glad he was to see Bunny and Sue, but he did not get up on his hind legs and put his paws on Sue’s shoulders, as he sometimes did.

“Oh, Splash, you’re awful dirty!” cried Sue.  “You must run in the brook, where the water is clean, and where there are white pebbly stones instead of mud on the bottom, to wash yourself.  You’ve got to go in too, Dix.”

Dix barked “bow-wow,” to show he did not mind, I suppose.

“Go on in, Splash!” cried Bunny, snapping his fingers and pointing at the brook.  “Go in and wash!”