jeremy-第34章

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very　grave；　would　stare　at　her　as　though　he　were　the　most　devout　and
obedient　dog　in　the　place。　Indeed；　he　bore　her　no　malice；　he　could
afford　to　disregard　the　Marys　of　this　world；　and　of　women　in　general
he　had　a　poor　opinion。　But　he　loved　to　tease；　and　Mary　was　an　easy
prey。　He　had　his　fun　with　her。

After　the　affair　of　the　sea…picnic；　Jeremy　was　for　some　time　under　a
cloud。　It　was　felt　that　he　was　getting　too　big　for　anyone　to　manage。
It　was　not　that　he　was　wicked；　not　that　he　kept　bad　company　with　the
boys　on　the　farm；　or　was　dishonest；　or　told　lies；　or　stole　things
no；　he　gave　no　one　that　kind　of　anxietybut　that　he　was　developing
quite　unmistakably　a　will　of　his　own；　and　had　a　remarkable　way　of
doing　what　he　wanted　without　being　actually　disobedient；　which　was
very　puzzling　to　his　elders。　Being　a　little　in　disgrace　he　went　off
more　than　ever　by　himself；　always　appearing　again　at　the　appointed
time；　but　telling　no　one　where　he　had　been　or　what　he　had　been
doing。　His　father　had　no　influence　over　him　at　all；　whilst　Uncle
Samuel　could　make　him　do　whatever　he　wantedand　this；　as　Aunt　Amy
said；　〃was　really　a　pity。〃

〃It's　a　good　thing　he's　going　to　school　in　September；〃　sighed　his
mother。　〃He's　getting　out　of　women's　hands。〃

Mary　longed　with　feverish　longing　to　share　in　his　adventures。　If
only　he　would　tell　her　what　he　did　on　these　walks　of　his。　But　no；
only　Hamlet　knew。　Perhaps；　if　he　did　not　go　with　the　dog　he　would　go
with　her。　When　this　idea　crept　into　her　brain　she　seized　it　and
clutched　it。　That　was　all　he　wanteda　companion！　Were　Hamlet　not
there　he　would　take　her。　Were　Hamlet　not　there。　。　。　She　began　to
brood　over　this。　She　wandered。　。　。　She　considered。　She　shuddered　at
her　own　wickedness；　she　tried　to　drive　the　thoughts　from　her　head；
but　they　kept　coming。

After　all；　no　one　need　know。　For　a　day　or　two　Jeremy　would　be　sorry
and　then　he　would　forget。　She　knew　the　man　who　went　round　selling
dogsselling　dogs　and　buying　them。

She　shuddered　at　her　wickedness。




III


The　last　days　of　August　came；　and　with　them　the　last　week　of　the
holiday。　Already　there　was　a　scent　of　autumn　in　the　air；　leaves　were
turning　gold　and　red；　and　the　evenings　came　cool　and　sudden；　upon
the　hot　summer　afternoons。　Mary　was　not　very　well；　she　had　caught　a
cold　somewhere；　and　existed　in　the　irritating　condition　of　going　out
one　day　and　being　held　indoors　the　next。　This　upset　her　temper；　and
at　night　she　had　nightmares；　in　which　she　saw　clouds　of　smoke
crawling　in　at　her　window；　snakes　on　the　floor；　and　crimson　flames
darting　at　her　from　the　ceiling。　It　was　because　she　was　in　an
abnormal　condition　of　health　that　the　idea　of　doing　something　with
Hamlet　had　gained　such　a　hold　upon　her。　She　considered　the　matter
from　every　point　of　view。　She　did　not　want　to　be　cruel　to　the　dog；
she　supposed　that　after　a　week　or　two　he　would　be　quite　happy　with
his　new　master；　and；　in　any　case；　he　had　strolled　in　so　casually
upon　the　Cole　family　that　he　was　accustomed　to　a　wandering　life。

She　did　not　intend　that　anyone　should　know。　It　was　to　be　a　deep
secret　all　of　her　own。

Jeremy　was　going　to　school　in　September；　and　before　then　she　must
make　him　friendly　to　her　again。　She　saw　stretching　in　front　of　her
all　the　lonely　autumn　without　him　and　her　own　memories　of　the
miserable　summer　to　make　her　wretched。　She　was　an　extremely
sentimental　little　girl。

As　always　happens　when　one　is　meditating　with　a　placated　conscience
a　wicked　deed；　the　opportunity　was　suddenly　offered　to　Mary　of
achieving　her　purpose。　One　morning　Jeremy；　after　refusing　to　listen
to　one　of　Mary's　long　romances；　lost　his　temper。

〃I　can't　stop；〃　he　said。　〃You　bother　and　bother　and　bother。　Aunt　Amy
says　you　nearly　make　her　mad。〃

〃I　don't　care　what　Aunt　Amy　says；〃　Mary　on　the　edge　of　tears
replied。

〃Hamlet　and　I　are　going　out。　And　I'm　sick　of　your　silly　old
stories。〃　Then　he　suddenly　stopped　and　gazed　at　Mary；　who　was
beginning；　as　usual；　to　weep。

〃Look　here；　Mary；　what's　been　the　matter　with　you　lately？　　You're
always　crying　now　or　something。　And　you　look　at　me　as　though　I'd
done　something　dreadful。　I　haven't　done　anything。〃

〃Ineversaid　youhad；〃　Mary　gulped　out。　He　rubbed　his　nose　in　a
way　that　he　had　when　he　was　puzzled。

〃If　it's　anything　I　do；　tell　me。　It's　so　silly　always　crying。　The
holidays　will　be　over　soon；　and　you've　done　nothing　but　cry。〃

〃You'reneverwith　menow；〃　Mary　sobbed。

〃Well；　I've　been　busy。〃

〃You　haven't。　You　can't　be　busy　allby　yourself。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　you　can。〃　He　was　getting　impatient。　〃Anyway；　you　might　let
Hamlet　and　me　alone。　You're　always　bothering　one　of　us。〃

〃No；　I'm　not。〃　She　choked　an　enormous　sob　and　burst　out　with：　〃It's
always　Hamlet　now。　I　wish　he'd　nevercome。　It　was　much　nicer
before。〃

Then　he　lost　his　temper。　〃Oh；　you're　a　baby！　I'm　sick　of　you　and
your　nonsense；〃　he　cried；　and　stamped　off。

In　Mary's　red…rimmed　eyes；　as　she　watched　him　go；　determination
grew。

It　happened　that　upon　the　afternoon　of　that　same　day　Miss　Jones
announced　that　she　would　take　Mary　for　a　walk；　then；　just　as　they
passed　through　the　farm　gates；　Hamlet；　rushing　out；　joined　them。　He
did　not　often　honour　them　with　his　company；　despising　women　most
especially　when　they　walked；　but　to…day　his　master　was　busy　digging
for　worms　in　the　vegetable　garden；　and；　after　a　quarter　of　an　hour's
contemplation　of　this　fascinating　occupation；　he　had　wandered　off　in
search　of　a　livelier　game。　He　decided　to　join　Miss　Jones；　he　could
do　what　he　pleased；　he　could　amuse　himself　with　her　ineffectual
attempts　to　keep　him　in　order；　and　he　could　irritate　Mary；　so　he
danced　along；　with　his　tail　in　the　air；　barking　at　imaginary　rats
and　poking　his　nose　into　hedges。

Mary；　with　a　sudden　tightened　clutching　of　the　heart；　realised　that
her　hour　was　upon　her。　She　felt　so　wicked　as　she　realised　this　that
she　wondered　that　the　ground　didn't　open　up　and　swallow　her；　as　it
had　done　with　those　unfortunate　people　in　the　Bible。　But　no；　the
world　was　calm。　Little　white　milky　clouds　raced　in　lines　and　circles
across　the　sky；　and　once　and　again　a　leaf　floated　from　a　tree；　hung
for　a　moment　suspended；　and　then　turned　slowly　to　the　ground。　The
hedges　were　a　dark　black…green；　high　and　thick　above　the　dusty　road；
there　had　been　no　rain　for　weeks。　Truly　a　stable　world。　Mary；
glaring　at　Fate；　wondered　how　it　could　be　so。

Miss　Jones；　who　was　happy　and　optimistic　to…day；　talked　in　a
tenderly　reminiscent　tone　of　her　youth。　This　vein　of　reminiscence
Mary；　on　her　normal　day；　loved。　To…day　she　did　not　hear　a　word　that
Miss　Jones　said。

〃I　remember　my　mother　saying　so　well　to　my　dear　brother：　'Do　what
you　like；　my　boy。　I　trust　you。'　And　indeed　Alfred　was　to　be　trusted
if　ever　a　boy　was。　It　is　a　remarkable　thing；　but　I　cannot　remember　a
single　occasion　of　dishonesty　on　Alfred's　part。　'A　white　lie；'　he
would　often　say；　'is　a　lie；　and　a　lie　is　a　sinwhite　or　black；
always　a　sin'；　and　I　remember　that　he　would　often　put　mother　to　a
serious　inconvenience　by　his　telling　callers　that　she　was　in　when
she　had　wished　it　to　be　said　that　she　was　not　at　home。　He　felt　it
his　serious　duty；　and　so　he　told　Mother。　'Don't　ask　me　to　tell　a
lie；　Mother；'　I　remember　his　saying。　'I　cannot　do　it。'〃

〃Like　George　Washington；〃　said　Mary；　suddenly　catching　the　last
words　of　Miss　Jones's　sentence。

〃He　was　like　many　famous　characters　in　history；　I　used　to　think。
Once　I　remember　reading　about　Oliver　Cromwell。　。　。　〃Where　is　that
dog？　Hamlet！　Hamlet！　Perhaps　he's　gone　after　the　sheep。　Ah！　there　he
is！　Hamlet；　you　naughty　dog！〃

They　were　approaching　one　of　their　favourite　pieces　of　country
Mellot　Wood。　Here；　on　the　wood's　edge；　the　ground　broke　away；
running　down　in　a　field　of　corn　to　a　little　green　valley　with
clustered　trees　that　showed　only　their　heads；　so　thickly　embedded
were　they；　and　beyond　the　valley　the　sea。　The　sea　looked　quite　close
here；　although　it　was　in　reality　four　miles　distant。　Never　was　such
a　place　as　this　view　for　light　and　shadow。　The　clouds　raced　like　the
black　wings　of　enormous　birds　across　the　light　green　valley；　and　the
red…gold　of　the　cornfield　was　tossed　into　the　haze　and　swept　like　a
golden　shadow　across　the　earth；　bending　back　again　when　the　breeze
had　died。　Behind　Mellot　Wood　was　Mellot　Farm；　an　old　eighteenth…
century　house　about　which　there　was　a　fine　tragic　story　with　a
murder　and　a　ghost　in　it；　and　this；　of　course；　gave　Mellot　Wood　an
additional　charm。　When　they　arrived　at　the　outskirts　of　Mellot　Wood
Mary　looked　about　her。　It　was　here；　on　the　edge　of　the　Rafiel　Road
that　skirted　the　wood；　that　she　had　once　seen　the　dog…man　eating　his
luncheon　out　of　a　red　pocket…handkerchief。　There　was　no　sign　of　him
to…day。　All　was　silent　and　still。　Only　the　little　wood　uttered
little　sighs　of　content　beneath　the　flying　clouds。　Hamlet；　tired
with　his　racing　after　imaginary　rabbits；　walked　quietly　along　by
Mary's　side。　What　was　she　to　do？　She　had　once　again　the　desperate
feeling　that　something　stronger　than　she　had　swept　down　upon　her　and
was　forcing　her　to　do　this　thing。　She　seemed　to　have　no　will　of　her
own；　but　to　be　watching　some　other　commit　an　act　whose　dangerous
wickedness　froze　her　heart。　How　could　she？　But　she　must。　Someone　was
doing　it　for　her。

And　in　very　truth　it　seemed　so。　Miss　Jones　said　that　now　they　were
here　she　might　as　well　call　upon　Miss　Andrews；　the　sister　of　the
Mellot　farmer。　Miss　Andrews　had　promised　her　some　ducks'　eggs。　They
pushed　open　the　farm　gate；　passed　across　the　yard　and　knocked　on　the
house　door。　Near　Mary　was　a　large　barn　with　a　heavy　door；　now　ajar。
Hamlet　sat　gazing　pensively　at　a　flock　of　geese；　his　tongue　out；
panting　contentedly。

〃Wait　here　one　minute；　Mary；〃　said　Miss　Jones。　〃I　won't　stay。〃

Miss　Jones　disappeared。　Mary；　still　under　the　strange　sense　that　it
was　not　she；　but　another；　who　did　these　things；　moved　back　to　the
barn；　calling　softly　to　Hamlet。　He　followed　her；　sniffing　a　rat
somewhere。　Very　quickly　she　pulled　back　the　door；　he；　still
investigating　his　rat；　followed　into　the　dark　excitements　of　the
barn。　With　a　quick　movement　she　bent　down；　slipped　off　his　collar；
which　she　hid　in　her　dress；　then　shut　him　in。　She　knew　that　for　a
moment　or　two　he　would　still　be　pursuing　his　rat；　and　she　saw；　with
guilty　relief；　Miss　Jones　come　out　to　her　just　as　she　had　finished
her　evil　deed。

〃Miss　Andrews　is　out；〃　said　Miss　Jones。　〃They　are　all　away　at
Liskane　Fair。〃

They　left　the　farm　and　walked　down　the　road。　Hamlet　had　not　begun
his　cry。




IV


Miss　Jones　was　pleased。　〃Such　a　nice　servant；〃　she　said。　〃One　of　the
old　kind。　She　had　been　with　the　family　fifty　years；　she　told　me；　and
had　nursed　Mr。　Andrews　on　her　knee。　Fancy！　Such　a　large　fat　man　as
he　is　now。　Too　much　beer；　I　suppose。　I　suppose　they　get　so　thirsty
with　all　the　straw　and　hay　about。　Yes；　a　really　nice　woman。　She　told
me　that　there　was　no　place　in　Glebeshire　to　touch　them　for　cream。　I
dare　say　they're　right。　After　all；　you　never　can　tell。　I　remember　at
home　。　。　。〃

She　broke　off　then　and　cried：　〃Where's　Hamlet？〃

Mary；　wickeder　than　ever；　stared　through　her　spectacles　down　the
road。　〃I　don't　know；　Miss　Jones；〃　she　said。　They　had　left　the　wood