bruce(布鲁斯)-第6部分
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The boy was thinner and shakier and whiter than when he had gone to
sleep with his cherished puppy curled against his narrow chest。 But there
was a light in his eyes and an eagerness in his heart that had not been there
in many a long week。
Lass was on the veranda to welcome him。 And as Dick scrambled out
of the car and ran to pick her up； she came more than half…way to meet
him。 With a flurry of fast…pattering steps and a bark of eager welcome； she
flung herself upon her long…vanished master。 For a highbred collie does
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not forget。 And at first glimpse of the boy Lass remembered him。
Dick caught her up in his armsa harder feat than of yore； because of
her greater weight and his own sapped strength；and hugged her tight to
his breast。 Winking very fast indeed to disperse tears that had no place in
the eyes of a self…contained man of twelve； he sputtered rapturously：
〃I KNEW I'd find you； LassieI knew it all the time；even the times
when I was deadsure I wouldn't！ Gee； but you've grown； though！ And
you're beautifuler than ever。 Isn't she； Miss？〃 he demanded； turning to the
Mistress with instinctive knowledge that here at least he would find
confirmation。 〃Indeed she is！〃 the Mistress assured him。
〃And see how glad she is to be with you again！ She〃
〃And Dad says she can stay with me； for keeps！〃 exulted Dick。 〃He
says he'll put a new lock on the cellar door； so she can't ever push out
again； the way she did； last time。 But I guess she's had her lesson in going
out for walks at night and not being able to find her way back。 She and I
are going to have the dandiest times together； that ever happened。 Aren't
we； Lass？ Is that her little boy？〃 he broke off； in eager curiosity； as the
Master appeared from the kennels； carrying Bruce。
The puppy was set down on the veranda floor for Dick's inspection。
〃He's cunning； isn't he？ Kind of like a Teddy Bear；the sort kids play
with。 But；〃 with a tinge of worry； 〃I'm not sure Ma will let me keep two。
Maybe〃
〃Perhaps；〃 suggested the Mistress； 〃perhaps you'd like us to keep little
Bruce； to remember Lass by？ We'll try to make him very happy。〃
〃Yes'm！〃 agreed Dick； in much haste； his brow clearing from a mental
vision of Mrs。 Hazen's face when she should see him return with twice as
many dogs as he had set out for。 〃Yes'm。 If you wouldn't mind； very much。
S'pose we leave it that way？ I guess Bruce'll like being with you； Miss。 II
guess pretty near anybody would。 You'llyou'll try not to be too homesick
for Lass； won't you？〃
On the steps of the veranda the downy and fat puppy watched his
mother's departure with no especial interest。 By the Mistress's wish； Mr。
Hazen had not been required to make any part of his proffered hundred…
dollar payment for the return of his boy's pet。 All the Mistress had
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stipulated was that Lass might be allowed to remain at The Place until
baby Bruce should no longer need her。
〃Bruce；〃 said the Mistress as the car rolled up the drive and out of
sight； 〃you are the sole visible result of The Place's experiment in raising
prize collies。 You have a tremendous responsibility on those fat little
shoulders of yours；to live up to it all。〃
By way of showing his scorn for such trifles as a 〃tremendous
responsibility；〃 Bruce proceeded to make a ferocious onslaught at the
Mistress's temperamental gray Persian kitten； 〃Tipperary；〃 which was
picking a mincing way across the veranda。
A howl of pain and two scratches on his tiny nose immediately
followed the attack。 Tipperary then went on with her mincing promenade。
And Bruce； with loud lamentations； galloped to the shelter of the
Mistress's skirt。
〃Poor little chap！〃 soothed the Mistress； picking him up and
comforting him。 〃Responsibility isn't such a joke； after all； is it； Baby？〃
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CHAPTER II。
The Pest
Thackeray； as a lad； was dropped from college for laziness and for
gambling。 Bismarck failed to get a University degree； because he lacked
power to study and because he preferred midnight beer to midnight oil。
George Washington； in student days； could never grasp the simplest rules
of spelling。 The young Lincoln loved to sprawl in the shade with fish…pole
or tattered book； when he should have been working。
Now； these men were giantsphysically as well as mentally。 Being
giants； they were by nature slow of development。
The kitten； at six months of age； is graceful and compact and of perfect
poise。 The lion…cub； at the same age； is a gawky and foolish and ill…knit
mass of legs and fur； deficient in sense and in symmetry。 Yet at six years；
the lion and the cat are not to be compared for power or beauty or majesty
or brain； or along any other lines。
The foregoing is not an essay on the slow development of the Great。 It
is merely a condensation of the Mistress's earnest arguments against the
selling or giving away of a certain hopelessly awkward and senseless and
altogether undesirable collie pup named Bruce。
From the very first； the Mistress had been Bruce's champion at The
Place。 There was no competition for that office。 She and she alone could
see any promise in the shambling youngster。
Because he had been born on The Place； and because he was the only
son of Rothsay Lass； whom； the Mistress had also championed against
strong opposition； it had been decided to keep and raise him。 But daily this
decision seemed less and less worth while。 Only the Mistress's
championing of the Undesirable prevented his early banishment。
From a fuzzy and adventurous fluff…ball of gray…gold…and…white fur；
Bruce swiftly developed into a lanky giant。 He was almost as large again
as is the average collie pup of his age； but； big as he was； his legs and feet
and head were huge； out of all proportion to the rest of him。 The head did
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not bother him。 Being hampered by no weight of brain； it would be
navigated with more or less ease； in spite of its bulk。 But the legs and feet
were not only in his own way； but in every one else's。
He seemed totally lacking in sense； as well as in bodily coordination。
He was forever getting into needless trouble。 He was a stormcenter。 No
one but a born foolcanine or humancould possibly have caused one…
tenth as much bother。
The Mistress had named him 〃Bruce；〃 after the stately Scottish
chieftain who was her history…hero。 And she still called him Brucefifty
times a dayin the weary hope of teaching him his name。 But every one
else on The Place gave him a title instead of a namea title that stuck：
〃The Pest。〃 He spent twenty…four hours； daily； living up to it。
Compared with Bruce's helplessly clownish trouble…seeking
propensities； Charlie Chaplin's screen exploits are miracles of heroic
dignity and of good luck。
There was a little artificial water…lily pool on The Place； perhaps four
feet deep。 By actual count； Bruce fell into it no less than nine times in a
single week。 Once or twice he had nearly drowned there before some
member of the family chanced to fish him out。 And； learning nothing from
experience； he would fall in again； promptly； the next day。
The Master at last rigged up a sort of sloping wooden platform；
running from the lip of the pool into the water； so that Bruce could crawl
out easily； next time he should tumble in。 Bruce watched the placing of
this platform with much grave interest。 The moment it was completed； he
trotted down it on a tour of investigation。 At its lower edge he slipped and
rolled into the pool。 There he floundered； with no thought at all of
climbing out as he had got in； until the Master rescued him and spread a
wire net over the whole pool to avert future accidents。
Thenceforth； Bruce met with no worse mischance； there； than the …
perpetual catching of his toe…pads in the meshes of the wire。 Thus
ensnared he would stand； howling most lamentably； until his yells brought
rescue。
Though the pool could be covered with a net； the wide lake at the foot
of the lawn could not be。 Into the lake Bruce would wade till the water
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reached his shoulders。 Then with a squeal of venturesome joy； he would
launch himself outward for a swim； and； once facing away from shore； he
never had sense enough
