"She's a sensible dog, and she knows where she'll be welcome," Watson smiled back. "Or where she's needed, for that matter. Except that you," he was addressing Nell herself now, "are rather too big to be a lap dog, I hope you realise."

Nell was quickly becoming a very spoiled dog, Watson suspected, with the two of them so indulgent, but it seemed to all work out. Sitting up a little, Watson leaned over to kiss Holmes, before leaning over Nell to scratch her fur affectionately; she squirmed a little and licked at his face.