buttherewasnothingtobeseen;whateverhehadheardhadpassedalready.nextmorning,theirneighbor,theartist,passedby,carryingapaint-boxandalargerollofcanvas.

"helpthegentlemantocarryhisboxofcolors,"saidthewomantotheboy;andheobeyedinstantly,tookthebox,andfollowedthepainter.theywalkedontilltheyreachedthepicturegallery,andmountedthesamestaircaseupwhichhehadriddenthatnightonthemetalpig.herememberedallthestatuesandpictures,thebeautifulmarblevenus,andagainhelookedatthemadonnawiththesaviourandst.john.theystoppedbeforethepicturebybronzino,inwhichchristisrepresentedasstandinginthelowerworld,withthechildrensmilingbeforehim,inthesweetexpectationofenteringheaven;andthepoorboysmiled,too,forherewashisheaven.

"youmaygohomenow,"saidthepainter,whiletheboystoodwatchinghim,tillhehadsetuphiseasel.

"mayiseeyoupaint?"askedtheboy;"mayiseeyouputthepictureonthiswhitecanvas?"

"iamnotgoingtopaintyet,"repliedtheartist;thenhebroughtoutapieceofchalk.hishandmovedquickly,andhiseyemeasuredthegreatpicture;andthoughnothingappearedbutafaintline,thefigureofthesaviourwasasclearlyvisibleasinthecoloredpicture.

"whydon'tyougo?"saidthepainter.thentheboywanderedhomesilently,andseatedhimselfonthetable,andlearnedtosewgloves.butalldaylonghisthoughtswereinthepicturegallery;andsoheprickedhisfingersandwasawkward.buthedidnotteasebellissima.wheneveningcame,andthehousedoorstoodopen,heslippedout.itwasabright,beautiful,starlightevening,butrathercold.awayhewentthroughthealready-desertedstreets,andsooncametothemetalpig;hestoopeddownandkisseditsshiningnose,andthenseatedhimselfonitsback.

"youhappycreature,"hesaid;"howihavelongedforyou!wemusttakearideto-night."

butthemetalpiglaymotionless,whilethefreshstreamgushedforthfromitsmouth.thelittleboystillsatastrideonitsback,whenhefeltsomethingpullingathisclothes.helookeddown,andtherewasbellissima,littlesmooth-shavenbellissima,barkingasifshewouldhavesaid,"hereiamtoo;whyareyousittingthere?"

afierydragoncouldnothavefrightenedthelittleboysomuchasdidthelittledoginthisplace."bellissimainthestreet,andnotdressed!"astheoldladycalledit;"whatwouldbetheendofthis?"

thedogneverwentoutinwinter,unlessshewasattiredinalittlelambskincoatwhichhadbeenmadeforher;itwasfastenedroundthelittledog'sneckandbodywithredribbons,andwasdecoratedwithrosettesandlittlebells.thedoglookedalmostlikealittlekidwhenshewasallowedtogooutinwinter,andtrotafterhermistress.andnowhereshewasinthecold,andnotdressed.oh,howwoulditend?allhisfancieswerequicklyputtoflight;yethekissedthemetalpigoncemore,andthentookbellissimainhisarms.thepoorlittlethingtrembledsowithcold,thattheboyranhomewardasfastashecould.

"whatareyourunningawaywiththere?"askedtwoofthepolicewhomhemet,andatwhomthedogbarked."wherehaveyoustolenthatprettydog?"theyasked;andtheytookitawayfromhim.

"oh,ihavenotstolenit;dogiveittomebackagain,"criedtheboy,despairingly.

"ifyouhavenotstolenit,youmaysayathomethattheycansendtothewatch-houseforthedog."thentheytoldhimwherethewatch-housewas,andwentawaywithbellissima.

herewasadreadfultrouble.theboydidnotknowwhetherhehadbetterjumpintothearno,orgohomeandconfesseverything.theywouldcertainlykillhim,hethought.

"well,iwouldgladlybekilled,"hereasoned;"forthenishalldie,andgotoheaven:"andsohewenthome,almosthopingfordeath.

thedoorwaslocked,andhecouldnotreachtheknocker.noonewasinthestreet;sohetookupastone,andwithitmadeatremendousnoiseatthedoor.

"whoisthere?"