The driver had tea after we returned to the deck and could attend to
the horse and boat.
Except the island in Linnet Lake, the most entertaining events of the
first day of our voyage were our passing villages or detached houses
on the canal banks.
Of the latter by far the most interesting was that of a dog-fancier,
from whose residence melodious howls, in the dog-dialect of every
tribe deserving to be represented in so choice a company, were wafted
up the stream, and met our ears before our eyes beheld the
landing-stage of the establishment, where the dog-fancier and some of
his dogs were lounging in the cool of the evening, and glad to see the
barge.
The fancier knew Mr. Rowe, and refreshed him (and us) with shandy-gaff
in horn tumblers. Some of the dogs who did not, barked incessantly at
us, wagging their tails at the same time, however, as if they had some
doubts of the correctness of their judgment in the matter. One very
small, very white, and very fluffy toy-dog, with a dove-coloured
ribbon, was--no doubt--incurably ill-tempered and inhospitable; but a
large brindled bull-dog, trying politely but vainly to hide his teeth
and tongue, wagged what the fancier had left him of a tail, and
dribbled with the pleasure of making our acquaintance, after the wont
of his benevolent and much-maligned family.
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