The puppy lay upon its back, lazily, with all four paws in the air, and cast a comical glance from one beady bright eye at the man who had disturbed him.
The Major sighed.
"He can't hunt, Patsy; he's not even a mouser." "We haven't a mouse in the house." "He's neither useful nor ornamental.

From the looks o' the beast he's only good to sleep and eat." "What's the odds ?" laughed Patsy, coddling Mumbles up in her arms.
"We don't expect use or ornamentation from Mumbles.

All we ask is his companionship." Mary called them to dinner just then, and the girl hurried to her room to make a hasty toilet while the men sat down at the table and eyed their soup reflectively.
"This addition to the family," remarked Uncle John, "need not make you at all unhappy, my dear Major.

Don't get jealous of Mumbles, for heaven's sake, for the little brute may add a bit to Patsy's bliss." "It's the first time I've ever allowed a dog in the house." "You are not running this present establishment.

It belongs exclusively to Patsy." "I've always hated the sight of a woman coddling a dog," added the Major, frowning.
"I know.