jeremy-第6部分

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may　have　done　its　best　to　defeat　meit　has　failed。　I　am　as　I　was。　I
ask　charity　of　no　man。　I　know　what　is　due　to　me。〃

It　was　this　that　attracted　Jeremy；　he　had　himself　felt　thus　after　a
slippering　from　his　father；　or　idiotic　punishments　from　the　Jampot；
and　the　uninvited　consolations　of　Mary　or　Helen　upon　such　occasions
had　been　resented　with　so　fierce　a　bitterness　that　his　reputation
for　sulkiness　had　been　soundly　established　with　all　his　circle。

Mary　was　reading。　。　。！　〃'an　old　Sheep；　sitting　in　an　arm…chair；
knitting；　and　every　now　and　then　leaving　off　to　look　at　her　through
a　great　pair　of　spec…t…a…c…les　spectacles！'〃

He　touched　her　arm　and　whispered：

〃I　say；　Mary；　stop　a　minutelook　at　that　dog　down　there。〃

They　both　stared　down　into　the　garden。　The　dog　had　stopped　at　the
gate；　it　sniffed　at　the　bars；　sniffed　at　the　wall　beyond；　then　very
slowly　but　with　real　dignity　continued　its　way　up　the　road。

〃Poor　thing；〃　said　Jeremy。　〃It　IS　in　a　mess。〃　Then　to　their
astonishment　the　dog　turned　back　and；　sauntering　down　the　road　again
as　though　it　had　nothing　all　day　to　do　but　to　wander　about；　and　as
though　it　were　not　wet；　shivering　and　hungry；　it　once　more　smelt　the
gate。

〃Oh；〃　said　Mary　and　Jeremy　together。

〃It's　like　Mother；〃　said　Jeremy；　〃when　she's　going　to　see　someone
and　isn't　sure　whether　it's　the　right　house。〃

Then；　most　marvellous　of　unexpected　climaxes；　the　dog　suddenly　began
to　squeeze　itself　between　the　bottom　bar　of　the　gate　and　the　ground。
The　interval　was　fortunately　a　large　one；　a　moment　later　the　animal
was　in　the　Coles'　garden。

The　motives　that　led　Jeremy　to　behave　as　he　did　are　uncertain。　It
may　have　been　something　to　do　with　the　general　boredom　of　the
afternoon；　it　may　have　been　that　he　felt　pity　for　the　bedraggled
aspect　of　the　animalmost　probable　reason　of　all；　was　that　devil…
may…care　independence　flung　up　from　the　road；　as　it　were；　expressly
at　himself。

The　dog　obviously　did　not　feel　any　great　respect　for　the　Cole
household。　He　wandered　about　the　garden；　sniffing　and　smelling
exactly　as　though　the　whole　place　belonged　to　him；　and　a　ridiculous
stump　of　tail；　unsubdued　by　the　weather；　gave　him　the　ludicrous
dignity　of　a　Malvolio。

〃I'm　going　down；〃　whispered　Jeremy；　flinging　a　cautious　glance　at
Helen　who　was　absorbed　in　her　sewing。

Mary's　eyes　grew　wide　with　horror　and　admiration。　〃You're　not　going
out；〃　she　whispered。　〃In　the　snow。　Oh；　Jeremy。　They　WILL　be　angry。〃

〃I　don't　care；〃　whispered　Jeremy　back　again。　〃They　can　be。〃

Indeed；　before　Mary's　frightened　whisper　he　had　not　intended　to　do
more　than　creep　down　into　the　pantry　and　watch　the　dog　at　close
range；　now　it　was　as　though　Mary　had　challenged　him。　He　knew　that　it
was　the　most　wicked　thing　that　he　could　doto　go　out　into　the　snow
without　a　coat　and　in　his　slippers。　He　might　even；　according　to　Aunt
Amy；　die　of　it；　but　as　death　at　present　meant　no　more　to　him　than　a
position　of　importance　and　a　quantity　of　red…　currant　jelly　and
chicken；　THAT　prospect　did　not　deter　him。　He　left　the　room　so
quietly　that　Helen　did　not　even　lift　her　eyes。

Then　upon　the　landing　he　waited　and　listened。　The　house　had　all　the
lighted　trembling　dusk　of　the　snowy　afternoon；　there　was　no　sound
save　the　ticking　of　the　clocks。　He　might　come　upon　the　Jampot　at　any
moment；　but　this　was　just　the　hour　when　she　liked　to　drink　her　cup
of　tea　in　the　kitchen；　he　knew　from　deep　and　constant　study　every
movement　of　her　day。　Fortune　favoured　him。　He　reached　without
trouble　the　little　dark　corkscrew　servants'　staircase。　Down　this　he
crept；　and　found　himself　beside　the　little　gardener's　door。　Although
here　there　was　only　snow…lit　dusk；　he　felt　for　the　handle　of　the
lock；　found　it；　turned　it；　and　was；　at　once；　over　the　steps；　into
the　garden。

Here；　with　a　vengeance；　he　felt　the　full　romance　and　danger　of　his
enterprise。　It　was　horribly　cold；　he　had　been　in　the　nursery　for　two
whole　days；　wrapped　up　and　warm；　and　now　the　snowy　world　seemed　to
leap　up　at　him　and　drag　him　down　as　though　into　an　icy　well。
Mysterious　shadows　hovered　over　the　garden；　the　fountain　pointed
darkly　against　the　sky；　and　he　could　feel　from　the　feathery　touches
upon　his　face　that　the　snow　had　begun　to　fall　again。

He　moved　forward　a　few　steps；　the　house　was　so　dark　behind　him；　the
world　so　dim　and　uncertain　in　front　of　him；　that　for　a　moment　his
heart　failed　him。　He　might　have　to　search　the　whole　garden　for　the
dog。

Then　he　heard　a　sniff；　felt　something　wet　against　his　leghe　had
almost　stepped　upon　the　animal。　He　bent　down　and　stroked　its　wet
coat。　The　dog　stood　quite　still；　then　moved　forward　towards　the
house；　sniffed　at　the　steps；　at　last　walked　calmly　through　the　open
door　as　though　the　house　belonged　to　him。　Jeremy　followed；　closed
the　door　behind　him；　then　there　they　were　in　the　little　dark　passage
with　the　boy's　heart　beating　like　a　drum；　his　teeth　chattering；　and
a　terrible　temptation　to　sneeze　hovering　around　him。　Let　him　reach
the　nursery　and　establish　the　animal　there　and　all　might　be　well；
but　let　them　be　discovered；　cold　and　shivering；　in　the　passage；　and
out　the　dog　would　be　flung。　He　knew　so　exactly　what　would　happen。　He
could　hear　the　voices　in　the　kitchen。　He　knew　that　they　were　sitting
warm　there　by　the　fire；　but　that　at　any　moment　Jampot　might　think
good　to　climb　the　stairs　and　see　〃what　mischief　they　children　were
up　to。〃　Everything　depended　upon　the　dog。　Did　he　bark　or　whine；　out
into　the　night　he　must　go　again；　probably　to　die　in　the　cold。　But
Jeremy；　the　least　sentimental　of　that　most　sentimental　race　the
English；　was　too　intent　upon　his　threatened　sneeze　to　pay　much
attention　to　these　awful　possibilities。

He　took　off　his　slippers　and　began　to　climb　the　stairs；　the　dog
close　behind　him；　very　grave　and　dignified；　in　spite　of　the　little
trail　of　snow　and　water　that　he　left　in　his　track。　The　nursery　door
was　reached；　pushed　softly　open；　and　the　startled　gaze　of　Mary　and
Helen　fell　wide…eyed　upon　the　adventurer　and　his　prize。




III


The　dog　went　directly　to　the　fire；　there；　sitting　in　the　very　middle
of　the　golden　cockatoos　on　the　Turkey　rug；　he　began　to　lick　himself。
He　did　this　by　sitting　very　square　on　three　legs　and　spreading　out
the　fourth　stiff　and　erect；　as　though　it　had　been　not　a　leg　at　all
but　something　of　wood　or　iron。　The　melted　snow　poured　off　him；
making　a　fine　little　pool　about　the　golden　cockatoos。　He　must　have
been　a　strange…looking　animal　at　any　time；　being　built　quite　square
like　a　toy　dog；　with　a　great　deal　of　hair；　very　short　legs；　and　a
thick　stubborn　neck；　his　eyes　were　brown；　and　now　could　be　seen　very
clearly　because　the　hair　that　usually　covered　them　was　plastered
about　his　face　by　the　snow。　In　his　normal　day　his　eyes　gleamed
behind　his　hair　like　sunlight　in　a　thick　wood。　He　wore　a　little
pointed　beard　that　could　only　be　considered　an　affectation；　in　one
word；　if　you　imagine　a　ridiculously　small　sheep…dog　with　no　legs；　a
French　beard　and　a　stump　of　a　tail；　you　have　him。　And　if　you　want　to
know　more　than　that　I　can　only　refer　you　to　the　description　of　his
great…great…great…grandson　〃Jacob；〃　described　in　the　Chronicles　of
the　Beaminster　Family。

The　children　meanwhile　gazed；　and　for　a　long　time　no　one　said　a
word。　Then　Helen　said：　〃Father　WILL　be　angry。〃

But　she　did　not　mean　it。　The　three　were；　by　the　entrance　of　the　dog；
instantly　united　into　an　offensive　and　defensive　alliance。　They　knew
well　that　shortly　an　attack　from　the　Outside　World　must　be
delivered；　and　without　a　word　spoken　or　a　look　exchanged　they　were
agreed　to　defend　both　themselves　and　the　dog　with　all　the　strength
in　their　power。　They　had　always　wanted　a　dog；　they　had　been
prevented　by　the　stupid　and　selfish　arguments　of　uncomprehending
elders。

Now　this　dog　was　here；　they　would　keep　him。

〃Oh；　he's　perfectly　sweet；〃　suddenly　said　Helen。

The　dog　paused　for　a　moment　from　his　ablutions；　raised　his　eyes；　and
regarded　her　with　a　look　of　cold　contempt；　then　returned　to　his
task。

〃Don't　be　so　silly；〃　said　Jeremy。　〃You　know　you　always　hate　it　when
Aunt　Amy　says　things　like　that　about　you。〃

〃Did　Nurse　see？〃　asked　Mary。

〃No；　she　didn't；〃　said　Jeremy；　〃but　she'll　be　up　in　a　minute。〃

〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　asked　Mary　her　mouth　wide　open。

〃Do？　Keep　him；　of　course；〃　said　Jeremy　stoutly；　at　the　same　time　his
heart　a　little　failed　him　as　he　saw　the　pool　of　the　water　slowly
spreading　and　embracing　one　cockatoo　after　another　in　its　ruinous
flood。

〃We　ought　to　wipe　him　with　a　towel；〃　said　Jeremy；　〃if　we　could　get
him　dry　before　Nurse　comes　up　she　mightn't　say　so　much。〃

But　alas；　it　was　too　late　for　any　towel；　the　door　opened；　and　the
Jampot　entered；　humming　a　hymn；　very　cheerful　and　rosy　from　the
kitchen　fire　and　an　abundant　series　of　chronicles　of　human　failings
and　misfortunes。　The　hymn　ceased　abruptly。　She　stayed　there　where
she　was；　〃frozen　into　an　image；〃　as　she　afterwards　described　it。　She
also　said：　〃You　could　'ave　knocked　me　down　with　a　feather。〃

The　dog　did　not　look　at　her；　but　crocked　under　him　the　leg　that　had
been　stiff　like　a　ramrod　and　spread　out　another。　The　children　did
not　speak。

〃Well！〃　For　a　moment　words　failed　her；　then　she　began；　her　hands
spread　out　as　though　she　was　addressing　a　Suffragette　meeting　in
Trafalgar　Square。　（She　knew；　happy　woman；　nothing　of　Suffragettes。）
〃Of　all　the　things；　and　it's　you；　Master　Jeremy；　that　'as　done　it；
as　anyone　might　have　guessed　by　the　way　you've　been　be'aving　this
last　fortnight；　and　what's　come　over　you　is　more　nor　I　nor　anyone
else　can　tell；　which　I　was　saying　only　yesterday　to　your　mother　that
it's　more　than　one　body　and　pair　of　hands　is　up　to　the　managing　of
now　you've　got　so　wild　and　wicked；　and　wherever　from　did　you　get　the
dirty　animal　dropping　water　all　over　the　nursery　carpet　and　smelling
awful；　I'll　be　bound；　which　anyone　can　see　that's　got　eyes；　and
you'd　know　what　your　father　will　do　to　you　when　he　knows　of　it；　and
so　he　shall；　as　sure　as　my　name　is　Lizzie　Preston。　。　。。　Go　on　out；
you　ugly；　dirty　animal…ough；　you　'orrible　creature　you。　I'll〃

But　her　advance　was　stopped。　Jeremy　stopped　it。　Standing　in　front　of
the　dog；　his　short　thick　legs　spread