`` I have a charming book about animals , and in it an interesting account of some trained poodles who could do the most wonderful things . Would you like to hear it while you put your maps and puzzles together ? '' asked Miss Celia , glad to keep her brother interested in their four-footed guest at least . `` Yes , 'm , yes , 'm , '' answered the children ; and , fetching the book , she read the pretty account , shortening and simplifying it here and there to suit her hearers . `` I invited the two dogs to dine and spend the evening ; and they came with their master , who was a Frenchman . He had been a teacher in a deaf and dumb school , and thought he would try the same plan with dogs . He had also been a conjurer , and now was supported by Blanche and her daughter Lyda . These dogs behaved at dinner just like other dogs ; but when I gave Blanche a bit of cheese and asked if she knew the word for it , her master said she could spell it . So a table was arranged with a lamp on it , and round the table were laid the letters of the alphabet painted on cards . Blanche sat in the middle , waiting till her master told her to spell cheese , which she at once did in French , F R O M A G E . Then she translated a word for us very cleverly . Some one wrote pferd , the German for horse , on a slate . Blanche looked at it and pretended to read it , putting by the slate with her paw when she had done . ` Now give us the French for that word , ' said the man ; and she instantly brought CHEVAL . ` Now , as you are at an Englishman 's house , give it to us in English ; ' and she brought me HORSE . Then we spelt some words wrong , and she corrected them with wonderful accuracy . But she did not seem to like it , and whined and growled and looked so worried , that she was allowed to go and rest and eat cakes in a corner . `` Then Lyda took her place on the table , and did sums on the slate with a set of figures . Also mental arithmetic , which was very pretty . ` Now , Lyda , ' said her master , ' I want to see if you understand division .
Suppose you had ten bits of sugar , and you met ten Prussian dogs , how many lumps would you , a XXXXX dog , give to each of the Prussians ? '
Blanche Celia English Englishman French Frenchman Lyda conjurer evening pferd