There are no hints too subtle for them not to know that something is afoot. The 'something that is afoot' that disturbs their equanimity is always when we are absent from the house without them. When we had only one little fellow, our toy poodle Riley, we went out of our way to take him with us wherever we would go, whenever we went anywhere and that could be quite awkward and limiting.

Now that we've got two little sibling poodle companions we feel that since they always have each others' company there's no need to feel badly for them if we leave them on their own at home occasionally. As we had to do this morning. We had little other choice, since dogs, small or large, are not welcome at hospitals and for obvious reasons.

So, after breakfast, we took them out to the backyard for a toilet break and off we went. Our hospital appointment didn't take long, and there was good news, so the occasion wasn't one to dampen our day. But such appointments more or less take the  stuffing out of you, and so to restore ourselves to a better frame of mind, we decided rather than returning directly home to drop by Byward Market for cheese and magazines, the combination that is so irresistible to my husband.

From early this morning, Jack and Jill sensed something different was happening. We arose a little earlier than usual. We didn't sit around the breakfast table as long as usual, reading the newspapers. We hurried to clean up the kitchen, make up our bed, and dress for the outside. And as soon as they saw us heading toward the foyer to retrieve our coats, their apprehension was affirmed.

They no longer follow us to the mud room where we put on our boots and prepare to go out to the garage. They know what will follow. They used to follow us and to plead with us to take them with us. Now, instead, they're resigned, they remain in the family room and they're quiet.

When we arrive back home again one might think they had been abandoned for days on end. They're beside themselves with agitated joy. And so are we.