He left the trough, and with the water
dripping from his lips, went up to uncle, and gave him a push with his
horns. Still uncle took no notice, and Duke almost pushed him over. Then
uncle left off petting Bright, and turned to him. He said Duke would
have treated him roughly, if he hadn't. I never saw a creature look as
satisfied as Duke did, when uncle began to card him. Bright didn't seem
to care, and only gazed calmly at them."
"I've seen Duke do that again and again," said Mrs. Wood. "He's the most
jealous animal that we have, and it makes him perfectly miserable to
have your uncle pay attention to any animal but him. What queer
creatures these dumb brutes are. They're pretty much like us in most
ways. They're jealous and resentful, and they can love or hate equally
well--and forgive, too, for that matter; and suffer--how they can
suffer, and so patiently, too. Where is the human being that would put
up with the tortures that animals endure and yet come out so patient?"
"Nowhere," said Miss Laura, in a low voice; "we couldn't do it."
"And there doesn't seem to be an animal," Mrs. Wood went on, "no matter
how ugly and repulsive it is, but what has some lovable qualities.
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