"O Grandma Elsie, it's only a dog, and I thought it a crazy man or a wicked murderer!" As she spoke the animal emerged from his hiding-place and walked into the outer room, dragging his chain after him.
Edward at once recognized him as a large mastiff Harry Duncan had shown him the previous afternoon.
"It's Mr.Duncan's dog," he said; "he must have broken his chain and come in unobserved before the house was closed for the night.

Here, Nero, good fellow, this way! You've done mischief enough for one night, and we'll send you home." He led the way to the outer door, the dog following quite peaceably, while Elsie, hearing sobs coming from the other room, hastened in to comfort and relieve the frightened children.
Grace still slept on in blessed unconsciousness; but she found Lulu crying hysterically, quite unable to continue her efforts at self-control, now that the necessity for it was past.
"Poor child!" Elsie said, folding her in her kind arms, "you have had a terrible fright, have you not ?" "Yes, Grandma Elsie; oh, I've been lying here so long, _so long_, thinking a murderer or crazy man was under the bed, just ready to jump out and kill Gracie and me!" she sobbed, clinging convulsively about Elsie's neck.
"And did not scream for help! What a brave little girl you are!" "I wanted to, and, oh, I could hardly keep from it! But I thought if I did it would wake Gracie and scare her to death, and the man would be sure to jump out and kill us at once." "Dear child," Elsie said, "you have shown yourself thoughtful, brave, and unselfish; how proud your father will be of his eldest daughter when he hears it!" "O Grandma Elsie, do you think he will?
How glad that would make me! It would pay for all the dreadful fright I have had," Lulu said, her tones tremulous with joy, as, but a moment ago, they had been with nervousness and fright.
"I am quite sure of it," Elsie answered, smoothing the little girl's hair with caressing hand, "quite sure; because I know he loves you very dearly, and that he admires such courage, unselfishness, and presence of mind as you have shown to-night." These kind words did much to turn Lulu's thoughts into a new channel and thus relieve the bad effects of her fright.

But Elsie continued for some time longer her efforts to soothe her into calmness and forgetfulness, using tender, caressing words and endearments; then she left her, with an injunction to try to go immediately to sleep.
Lulu promised compliance, and, attempting it, succeeded far sooner than she had thought possible.
The whole occurrence seemed like a troubled dream when she awoke in the morning.

It was a delicious day in early October, and as soon as dressed she went into the garden, where she found John Hencle already at work, industriously weeding and watering his plants and flowers.
"Goot-morning, mine leetle mees," he said, catching sight of her, "Was it so goot a night mit you ?" "No," she said, and went on to tell the story of her fright.
"Dot ish lige me," he remarked, phlegmatically, at the conclusion of her tale.

"Von nighd I hears somedings what make me scare.