Thentheydiscussedoptics，astheycalledit，andwhetheracertaininjurytothebrainwouldproduceblindnessornot，buttheycouldnotagreeaboutit，andsaidtheymusttestitbyexperimentbyandby;andnexttheydiscussedplants，andthatinterestedme，becauseinthesummerSadieandIhadplantedseeds——Ihelpedherdigtheholes，youknow——andafterdaysanddaysalittleshruboraflowercameupthere，anditwasawonderhowthatcouldhappen;butitdid，andIwishedIcouldtalk——I
wouldhavetoldthosepeopleaboutitandshownthenhowmuchIknew，andbeenallalivewiththesubject;butIdidn\'tcarefortheoptics;itwasdull，andwhenthecamebacktoitagainitboredme，andIwenttosleep.
Prettysoonitwasspring，andsunnyandpleasantandlovely，andthesweetmotherandthechildrenpattedmeandthepuppygood—by，andwentawayonajourneyandavisittotheirkin，andthemasterwasn\'tanycompanyforus，butweplayedtogetherandhadgoodtimes，andtheservantswerekindandfriendly，sowegotalongquitehappilyandcountedthedaysandwaitedforthefamily.
Andonedaythosemencameagain，andsaid，nowforthetest，andtheytookthepuppytothelaboratory，andIlimpedthree—leggedlyalong，too，feelingproud，foranyattentionshowntothepuppywasapleasuretome，ofcourse.Theydiscussedandexperimented，andthensuddenlythepuppyshrieked，andtheysethimonthefloor，andhewentstaggeringaround，withhisheadallbloody，andthemasterclappedhishandsandshouted：
\"There，I\'vewon——confessit！He\'sablindasabat！\"
Andtheyallsaid：
\"It\'sso——you\'veprovedyourtheory，andsufferinghumanityowesyouagreatdebtfromhenceforth，\"andtheycrowdedaroundhim，andwrunghishandcordiallyandthankfully，andpraisedhim.
ButIhardlysaworheardthesethings，forIranatoncetomylittledarling，andsnuggledclosetoitwhereitlay，andlickedtheblood，anditputitsheadagainstmine，whimperingsoftly，andIknewinmyheartitwasacomforttoitinitspainandtroubletofeelitsmother\'stouch，thoughitcouldnotseeme.Thenitdroppeddown，presently，anditslittlevelvetnoseresteduponthefloor，anditwasstill，anddidnotmoveanymore.
Soonthemasterstoppeddiscussingamoment，andranginthefootman，andsaid，\"Buryitinthefarcornerofthegarden，\"andthenwentonwiththediscussion，andItrottedafterthefootman，veryhappyandgrateful，forIknewthepuppywasoutofitspainnow，becauseitwasasleep.Wewentfardownthegardentothefarthestend，wherethechildrenandthenurseandthepuppyandIusedtoplayinthesummerintheshadeofagreatelm，andtherethefootmandugahole，andIsawhewasgoingtoplantthepuppy，andIwasglad，becauseitwouldgrowandcomeupafinehandsomedog，likeRobinAdair，andbeabeautifulsurpriseforthefamilywhentheycamehome;soItriedtohelphimdig，butmylamelegwasnogood，beingstiff，youknow，andyouhavetohavetwo，oritisnouse.WhenthefootmanhadfinishedandcoveredlittleRobinup，hepattedmyhead，andthereweretearsinhiseyes，andhesaid：\"Poorlittledoggie，yousavedHISchild！\"
Ihavewatchedtwowholeweeks，andhedoesn\'tcomeup！Thislastweekafrighthasbeenstealinguponme.Ithinkthereissomethingterribleaboutthis.Idonotknowwhatitis，butthefearmakesmesick，andI
cannoteat，thoughtheservantsbringmethebestoffood;andtheypetmeso，andevencomeinthenight，andcry，andsay，\"Poordoggie——dogiveitupandcomehome;don\'tbreakourhearts！\"andallthisterrifiesmethemore，andmakesmesuresomethinghashappened.AndIamsoweak;
sinceyesterdayIcannotstandonmyfeetanymore.Andwithinthishourtheservants，lookingtowardthesunwhereitwassinkingoutofsightandthenightchillcomingon，saidthingsIcouldnotunderstand，buttheycarriedsomethingcoldtomyheart.
\"Thosepoorcreatures！Theydonotsuspect.Theywillcomehomeinthemorning，andeagerlyaskforthelittledoggiethatdidthebravedeed，andwhoofuswillbestrongenoughtosaythetruthtothem：\'Thehumblelittlefriendisgonewheregothebeaststhatperish.\'\"
