They pitied him for the lonely life he must lead alone there at the Valley Farm , with only a deaf old housekeeper as a companion , for it did not occur to the Bayside people in general that a couple of shaggy dogs could be called companions , and they did not know that books make very excellent comrades for people who know how to treat them . One of Jeffrey 's dogs was with him now -- the oldest one , with white breast and paws and a tawny coat . He was so old that he was half-blind and rather deaf , but , with one exception , he was the dearest of living creatures to Jeffrey Miller , for Sara Stuart had given him the sprawly , chubby little pup years ago . They came down the hill together . A group of men were standing on the bridge in the hollow , discussing Colonel Stuart 's funeral of the day before . Jeffrey caught Sara 's name and paused on the outskirts of the group to listen . Sometimes he thought that if he were lying dead under six feet of turf and Sara Stuart 's name were pronounced above him , his heart would give a bound of life . `` Yes , the old kunnel 's gone at last , '' Christopher Jackson was saying . `` He took his time dyin ' , that 's sartain . Must be a kind of relief for Sara -- she 's had to wait on him , hand and foot , for years . But no doubt she 'll feel pretty lonesome . Wonder what she 'll do ? '' `` Is there any particular reason for her to do anything ? '' asked Alec Churchill . `` Well , she 'll have to leave Pinehurst . The estate 's entailed and goes to her cousin , Charles Stuart . '' There were exclamations of surprise from the other men on hearing this . Jeffrey drew nearer , absently patting his dog 's head . He had not known it either . `` Oh , yes , '' said Christopher , enjoying all the importance of exclusive information .
`` I thought everybody knew XXXXX .
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