As we all know the Duke of Devonshire was the definition of socially awkward. We also know he preferred the company of dogs to men ( no blame there!) which is why he was known as Canis to his close friends. This was an affection that did not wane with age, according to his daughter,
Harryo (probably the most opinionated of the Devonshire brood). After Georgiana's death, the duke was more aware of his mortality and put in a last-ditch effort to get to know his adult children. The olive branch he extended to Harryo came in the form of a puppy, which must have had the middle-child rolling her eyes at her senile old dad. She wrote,
he really thinks of little else [besides puppies] and the whole time of dinner and supper
he feeds and watches them, laughs excessively every time they squeak or
run and listens to no conversation with half the pleasure as he does
when these puppies are the subject.
Despite his many, many flaws, there are just some aspects of the duke that I can't help but relate to. Puppies > Dinner conversation.
