A Little Maid of Picardy by Amy Ella Blanchard

It was in the middle of the night that Lucie woke with a consciousness of something missing. The little furry ball always curled up at her feet was not there. She sat up in bed. "Pom Pom" she called softly, feeling along the edge of her cot and reaching over toward the foot. But no moist little tongue licked her hand in response. "He has gone to Paulette," decided Lucie, for once in a great while he took a notion to cuddle down by the older woman. Having made up her mind that this was the way of it Lucie snuggled down again and it was not till morning that she discovered that Pom Pom was really gone.

"He was here last night when Victor came," said the girl distressedly. "You remember, Paulette, how he jumped on Victor and barked so sharply that to stop him Victor took him in his lap."