becca felt happier than she had since the death of her dear Daddy. She was sorry her attempt to make friends with her uncle had failed, but the love of a dog like Doctor was much more to be desired than mere toleration from a man like her Uncle Spot, even though he did look like a young, sun-burned Greek god.
"Doctor, you have more temperament than Uncle Spot, and I think you and I are soul mates," chuckled the little girl.
Doctor wagged his tail and gave Rebecca's neck an ecstatic lick, under the curtain of the sunbonnet which she was still wearing, thanks to Aunt Pearly Gates' device.
"Do you know, Doctor, I am afraid it is almost time for that old dinner to be served. Are you hungry? I'm not a bit, although I didn't eat my corn pone. We mustn't be late, because to-day is the day I am trying to make my relations love me. It is certainly up-hill work. Grandfather is not coming home to dinner to-day, because I heard him tell Aunt Testy to send him some lunch by Willie Bell, and I'll bet anything the aunts will pick on me for everything I've done wrong and all the things I might do wrong. I wish my stomach kept better time, Doctor. It never tells me when dinner is ready. Come, let's race!"
