I'll try to write one chapter per S2 episode, so this is Episode 2...Still feel a little silly, so any encouragement is very welcome! :-)

"I'm not going, Isis. The army doesn't want me."

He's not going! I wag my tail and give an excited yelp but Robert looks sad. "I want to be useful, Isis. I miss the excitement and the camaraderie of the army - it's like being in a pack. You understand, don't you?" I think about when I used to go out with the guns and the spaniels. I was in a pack then, although I always considered myself slightly superior to the spaniels. I miss the shoot - the noise, the wind whistling in my fur and the praise I got when I brought the birds back. I think I understand how he's feeling.

William is going to the war. On his last day, he takes me on a long walk and talks to me about duty and honour. I don't know what he means, but I stay close to him and tell him not to get killed.

Carson is looking down at me severely, and I walk past him towards Robert. Carson doesn't like me. He always tells me off for "interrupting the smooth running of the house," but of course he never says anything to Robert.

"Who will walk the dog when William's gone, milord?" He looks towards Lang.

No, I whimper! I don't want Lang to walk me! He makes me nervous. I brushed past him once. He yelped and backed into me, grabbing my fur. I barked and showed my teeth. I shouldn't have done it, I know, but he scared me. Robert just looked angry.

Robert remembers what happened. He leans down to pet me. "I'll do it. I know how overworked you are already downstairs." I bark at him in approval, already looking forward to showing him all the places William takes me. Maybe we can even find new ones together.

Edith is going to work on the farm today. Robert tells her to take me with her. He says it's good exercise, but I know he wants me to look after her. I run alongside her bike. She slows down so I can catch up.

Edith is there to drive the tractor. I don't want to ride in the tractor - it's too big and noisy for me. Dixie rides in the tractor with Edith instead. Dixie is the farm collie. He's clever and knows it. He thinks he's important because he has a "job" - catching mice and rounding sheep up. Well, Dixie is welcome to his job. He's never been in the house next to a warm fire, he's never tasted Mrs Patmore's cooking and he's certainly never met Robert.

I watch from a safe distance as Edith uses the tractor to pull out the tree stump. Well done! I bark.

When I get back, I lounge in the middle of the dressing room, tired and happy. I like this time when it's just the two of us and Robert talks to me and pets me. "Thomas is coming back to work at the hospital. Now, I know what you're thinking..." I wonder if Robert knows that Thomas used to kick and chase me when he thought no one was looking. I was glad when Thomas went off to the war. "...but it makes Cora happy." Ah! Robert does lots of things to make Cora happy.

Cora doesn't like me. She never calls me by my name, only "that dog" or "that dog of yours". I think it started when she discovered me sleeping on her bed. I was only a puppy then, so I didn't know it was wrong. All I knew was that I had found the perfect sleeping spot. I was fast asleep on the soft, warm bedspread, my paws in the air, oblivious to everything...

"ROBERT!" I had barely opened my eyes before the bedspread was pulled from under me. I landed on the floor with a bump.

Robert gave me a treat to make me feel better. He told me I wasn't allowed on the bed, but he felt still sorry for me. He used to leave his dressing room door ajar so I could sneak in and sleep next to the bed. It wasn't as comfortable as the big bed but I felt safe next to Robert, and he always made sure I was gone before Cora woke up. She never discovered me but she started saying the room smelt funny. Then O'Brien found dog hairs (she doesn't like me either!) Well, that was it. He tried explaining that I was lonely and didn't want to be on my own at night. Cora said he could keep me company in his dressing room. I thumped my tail in agreement but Robert didn't think it was such a good idea.

"Sorry, Isis. You'll have to stay in here." He made my basket up apologetically with lots of warm blankets and a pair of old socks. I woof to let him know I appreciate it. I know he wants to sleep in the big, comfortable bed and I don't really mind. At least Cora doesn't come in the dressing room. She says it "smells of that dog".

I have to share Robert with Cora sometimes. So I don't mind when she comes on with us on our afternoon walk. I keep them in sight while I weave through the trees. I like the crunch of the leaves on my paws and the smell of earth and leaves.

It spot a small tree stump. It looks like a bit like the one Edith pulled out yesterday, only smaller. I wonder...I grab the branches with my teeth, and give it a tug. It yields, so I pull some more, and...got it! It's a little too heavy to pick up so I drag it carefully along the ground. I drop it proudly in front of Robert and Cora. He stops and smiles at me. "I think that's a bit too big to throw. Let's see if we can find a better one." He takes me back into the woods to pick out a good stick.

Mary and Carlisle are watching and laughing at us.

"Poor Mama."

"The dog certainly seems very attached to your father."

"It's only because Papa is always feeding her titbits."

No! It's much more than that. We're friends. We look after each other. Mary would never understand.

I think Lavinia understands. She spends time with me and strokes my fur gently. Robert let her take me for a walk. "Isis will know where to go." I certainly do! I trot off in the lead, but my attention is soon distracted by a very interesting smell. I sniff the bush, trying to decide which animal has been there before me...

... Lavinia is talking, but something's wrong. I turn round. Carlisle! He's grabbed her wrist and is talking to in a quiet, menacing voice. He looks scary. I growl at him, ready to pounce. Fortunately, Robert's sister has seen him and he stops what he was doing. I stay close to Lavinia now, just in case he tries to hurt her again.

"Here, Isis." He takes a piece of ham from his pocket and holds it out to me. I can't help it - I'm drooling. We stare at each other. He knows I want the ham, but I'm afraid he will hurt me if I take it. Eventually, he drops it on the ground in front of him. I race forward and pick it up quickly before he has a chance to reach out.

Robert says dogs are a good judge of character. I may have taken the ham from him, but I don't like Richard Carlisle.