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perhaps as delicate as the cat； at war with impossible conditions。
Man has much to answer for； and the part he plays is yet more
damnable and parlous than Corin's in the eyes of Touchstone。 But
his intervention has at least created an imperial situation for the
rare surviving ladies。 In that society they reign without a rival：
conscious queens； and in the only instance of a canine wife…beater
that has ever fallen under my notice； the criminal was somewhat
excused by the circumstances of his story。 He is a little； very
alert； well…bred； intelligent Skye； as black as a hat； with a wet
bramble for a nose and two cairngorms for eyes。 To the human
observer； he is decidedly well…looking； but to the ladies of his
race he seems abhorrent。 A thorough elaborate gentleman； of the
plume and sword…knot order； he was born with a nice sense of
gallantry to women。 He took at their hands the most outrageous
treatment； I have heard him bleating like a sheep； I have seen him
streaming blood； and his ear tattered like a regimental banner； and
yet he would scorn to make reprisals。 Nay more； when a human lady
upraised the contumelious whip against the very dame who had been
so cruelly misusing him； my little great…heart gave but one hoarse
cry and fell upon the tyrant tooth and nail。 This is the tale of a
soul's tragedy。 After three years of unavailing chivalry； he
suddenly； in one hour； threw off the yoke of obligation； had he
been Shakespeare he would then have written TROILUS AND CRESSIDA to
brand the offending sex； but being only a little dog； he began to
bite them。 The surprise of the ladies whom he attacked indicated
the monstrosity of his offence； but he had fairly beaten off his
better angel； fairly committed moral suicide； for almost in the
same hour； throwing aside the last rags of decency； he proceeded to
attack the aged also。 The fact is worth remark； showing； as it
does； that ethical laws are common both to dogs and men； and that
with both a single deliberate violation of the conscience loosens
all。 〃But while the lamp holds on to burn；〃 says the paraphrase；
〃the greatest sinner may return。〃 I have been cheered to see
symptoms of effectual penitence in my sweet ruffian； and by the
handling that he accepted uncomplainingly the other day from an
indignant fair one； I begin to hope the period of STURM UND DRANG
is closed。
All these little gentlemen are subtle casuists。 The duty to the
female dog is plain； but where competing duties rise； down they
will sit and study them out； like Jesuit confessors。 I knew
another little Skye； somewhat plain in manner and appearance； but a
creature compact of amiability and solid wisdom。 His family going
abroad for a winter； he was received for that period by an uncle in
the same city。 The winter over； his own family home again； and his
own house （of which he was very proud） reopened； he found himself
in a dilemma between two conflicting duties of loyalty and
gratitude。 His old friends were not to be neglected； but it seemed
hardly decent to desert the new。 This was how he solved the
problem。 Every morning； as soon as the door was opened； of posted
Coolin to his uncle's； visited the children in the nursery； saluted
the whole family； and was back at home in time for breakfast and
his bit of fish。 Nor was this done without a sacrifice on his
part； sharply felt； for he had to forego the particular honour and
jewel of his day … his morning's walk with my father。 And； perhaps
from this cause； he gradually wearied of and relaxed the practice；
and at length returned entirely to his ancient habits。 But the
same decision served him in another and more distressing case of
divided duty； which happened not long after。 He was not at all a
kitchen dog； but the cook had nursed him with unusual kindness
during the distemper； and though he did not adore her as he adored
my father … although （born snob） he was critically conscious of her
position as 〃only a servant〃 … he still cherished for her a special
gratitude。 Well； the cook left； and retired some streets away to
lodgings of her own； and there was Coolin in precisely the same
situation with any young gentleman who has had the inestimable
benefit of a faithful nurse。 The canine conscience did not solve
the problem with a pound of tea at Christmas。 No longer content to
pay a flying visit； it was the whole forenoon that he dedicated to
his solitary friend。 And so； day by day； he continued to comfort
her solitude until （for some reason which I could never understand
and cannot approve） he was kept locked up to break him of the
graceful habit。 Here； it is not the similarity； it is the
difference； that is worthy of remark； the clearly marked degrees of
gratitude and the proportional duration of his visits。 Anything
further removed from instinct it were hard to fancy； and one is
even stirred to a certain impatience with a character so destitute
of spontaneity； so passionless in justice； and so priggishly
obedient to the voice of reason。
There are not many dogs like this good Coolin； and not many people。
But the type is one well marked； both in the human and the canine
family。 Gallantry was not his aim； but a solid and somewhat
oppressive respectability。 He was a sworn foe to the unusual and
the conspicuous； a praiser of the golden mean； a kind of city uncle
modified by Cheeryble。 And as he was precise and conscientious in
all the steps of his own blameless course； he looked for the same
precision and an even greater gravity in the bearing of his deity；
my father。 It was no sinecure to be Coolin's idol： he was exacting
like a rigid parent； and at every sign of levity in the man whom he
respected； he announced loudly the death of virtue and the
proximate fall of the pillars of the earth。
I have called him a snob； but all dogs are so； though in varying
degrees。 It is hard to follow their snobbery among themselves； for
though I think we can perceive distinctions of rank； we cannot
grasp what is the criterion。 Thus in Edinburgh； in a good part of
the town； there were several distinct societies or clubs that met
in the morning to … the phrase is technical … to 〃rake the backets〃
in a troop。 A friend of mine； the master of three dogs； was one
day surprised to observe that they had left one club and joined
another； but whether it was a rise or a fall； and the result of an
invitation or an expulsion； was more than he could guess。 And this
illustrates pointedly our ignorance of the real life of dogs； their
social ambitions and their social hierarchies。 At least； in their
dealings with men they are not only conscious of sex； but of the
difference of station。 And that in the most snobbish manner； for
the poor man's dog is not offended by the notice of the rich； and
keeps all his ugly feeling for those poorer or more ragged tha