Hecutalittleholeinhisdooronpurposeforher, andsheseemedtofeelthatonlyinGerasim’sgarretshewascompletelymistressandathome; anddirectlyshewentin, , butsheneverbarkedwithoutsufficientcause, likesomestupidhouse-dog, who, sittingonitshind-legs, blinking, withitsnoseintheair, barkssimplyfromdullness, atthestars, ! Mumu’sdelicatelittlevoicewasneverraisedwithoutgoodreason; eithersomestrangerwaspassingclosetothefence, ortherewassomesuspicioussoundorrustlesomewhere...Infact, shewasanexcellentwatch-dog.
Mumuneverwentintothemistress’shouse; andwhenGerasimcarriedwoodintotherooms, shealwaysstayedbehind, impatientlywaitingforhimatthesteps, prickingupherearsandturningherheadtorightandtoleftattheslightestcreakofthedoor...
; , theladycaughtsightofherbusilygnawingabone.
“Mercyonus!” shecriedsuddenly, “whatdogisthat? Butit’sacharminglittledog! .”
Thecompanionflewatonceintothehall.“Boy, boy!” sheshouted, “bringMumuinatonce! Makehaste, Stepan!”
Gerasim, whowasatthatinstantinthekitchen, knockingoutandcleaningabarrel, turningitupsidedowninhishandslikeachild’; hecalledMumu, however, pickedherup, andhandedherovertoStepan.
Stepancarriedherintothedrawingroom, .
Mumu, whohadneverinherlifebeeninsuchmagnificentapartments, wasverymuchfrightened, andmadearushforthedoor, but, beingdrivenbackbytheobsequiousStepan, shebegantrembling, andhuddledcloseupagainstthewall.
“Mumu, Mumu, cometome, cometoyourmistress,” saidthelady, “come, sillything...don’tbeafraid.”
ButMumulookedroundheruneasily, , andsetitdownbeforeMumu, butMumuwouldnotevensniffatthemilk, andstillshivered, andlookedroundasbefore.
“Ah, whatasillyyouare!” saidthelady, andgoinguptoher, shestoopeddown, andwasabouttostrokeher, butMumuturnedherheadabruptly, .
“Takeheraway,” saidtheoldladyinachangedvoice.“Wretchedlittledog! Whataspitefulcreature!”
Nextmorningsheorderedstewardtobesummonedanhourearlierthanusual.“Tellme, please,” shesaid, “whatdogwasthatbarkingallnightinouryard? Itwouldn’tletmesleep! Wehaveayarddog, haven’twe? Well, whymore? whatdowewantmoredogsfor? Andwhatdoesthedumbmanwantwithadog? Whogavehimleavetokeepdogsinmyyard? YesterdayIwenttothewindow, andthereitwaslyingintheflower-garden; ithaddraggedinnastinessitwasgnawing, andmyrosesareplantedthere...”
“Yes, Mistress.” ThestewardwhisperedsomeinstructionstoStepan, towhichStepanrespondedwithsomethingbetweenayawnandalaugh.
