jeremy-第6章

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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　defiantly　apart；　his　fists
clenched；　he　almost　shouted：

〃You　shan't　touch　him。　。　。。　No；　you　shan't。　I　don't　care。　He　shan't
go　out　again　and　die。　You're　a　cruel；　wicked　woman。〃

The　Jampot　gasped。　Never；　no；　never　in　all　her　long　nursing
experience　had　she　been　so　defied；　so　insulted。

Her　teeth　clicked　as　always　when　her　temper　was　roused；　the　reason
being　that　thirty　years　ago　the　arts　and　accomplishments　of
dentistry　had　not　reached　so　fine　a　perfection　as　to…day　can　show。

She　had；　moreover；　bought　a　cheap　set。　Her　teeth　clicked。　She　began：
〃The　moment　your　mother　comes　I　give　her　notice。　To　think　that　all
these　years　I've　slaved　and　slaved　only　to　be　told　such　things　by　a
boy　as〃

Then　a　very　dramatic　thing　occurred。　The　door　opened；　just　as　it
might　in　the　third　act　of　a　play　by　M。　Sardou；　and　revealed　the
smiling　faces　of　Mrs。　Cole；　Miss　Amy　Trefusis　and　the　Rev。　William
Jellybrand；　Senior　Curate　of　St。　James's；　Orange　Street。

Mr。　Jellybrand　had　arrived；　as　he　very　often　did；　to　tea。　He　had
expressed　a　desire；　as　he　very　often　did；　to　see　the　〃dear
children。〃　Mrs。　Cole；　liking　to　show　her　children　to　visitors；　even
to　such　regular　and　ordinary　ones　as　Mr。　Jellybrand；　at　once　was
eager　to　gratify　his　desire。

〃We'll　catch　them　just　before　their　tea；〃　she　said　happily。

There　is　an　unfortunate　tendency　on　the　part　of　our　Press　and　stage
to　caricature　our　curates；　this　tendency　I　would　willingly　avoid。　It
should　be　easy　enough　to　do；　as　I　am　writing　about　Polchester；　a
town　that　simply　aboundsand　also　abounded　thirty　years　agoin
curates　of　the　most　splendid　and　manly　type。　But；　unfortunately；　Mr。
Jellybrand　was　not　one　of　these。　I；　myself；　remember　him　very　well；
and　can　see　him　now　flinging　his　thin；　black；　andas　it　seemed　to
me　thengigantic　figure　up　Orange　Street；　his　coat　flapping　behind
him；　his　enormous　boots　flapping　in　front　of　him；　and　his　huge　hands
flapping　on　each　side　of　him　like　a　huge　gesticulating　crow。

He　had；　the　Polchester　people　who　liked　him　said；　〃a　rich　voice。〃
The　others　who　did　not　like　him　called　him　〃an　affected　ass。〃　He　ran
up　and　down　the　scale　like　this：
______________________________________________________________
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Mrs。
______________________________________________________________
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　dear
_____________________________________________________________
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　My
______________________________________________________________
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Cole。
______________________________________________________________

and　his　blue　cheeks　looked　colder　than　any　iceberg。　But　then　I　must
confess　that　I　am　prejudiced。　I　did　not　like　him；　no　children　did。

The　Cole　children　hated　him。　Jeremy　because　he　had　damp　hands；　Helen
because　he　never　looked　at　her；　Mary　because　he　once　said　to　her；
〃Little　girls　must　play　as　well　as　work；　you　know。〃　He　always　talked
down　to　us　as　though　we　were　beings　of　another　and　inferior　planet。
He　called　it；　〃Getting　on　with　the　little　ones。〃　No；　he　was　not
popular　with　us。

He　stood　on　this　particular　and　dramatic　occasion　in　front　of　the
group　in　the　doorway　and　staredas　well　he　might。　Unfortunately　the
situation；　already　bad　enough；　was　aggravated　by　this　dark
prominence　of　Mr。　Jellybrand。　It　cannot　be　found　in　any　chronicles
that　Mr。　Jellybrand　and　the　dog　had　met　before；　it　is　simply　a　fact
that　the　dog；　raising　his　eyes　at　the　opening　of　the　door　and
catching　sight　of　the　black…coated　figure；　forgot　instantly　his
toilet；　rose　dripping　from　his　rug；　and　advanced　growling；　his　lips
back；　his　ears　out；　his　tail　erect；　towards　the　door。　Then
everything　happened　together。　Mr。　Jellybrand；　who　had　been　afraid　of
dogs　ever　since；　as　an　infant；　he　had　been　mistaken　for　a　bone　by　a
large　retriever；　stepped　back　upon　Aunt　Amy；　who　uttered　a　shrill
cry。　Mrs。　Cole；　although　she　did　not　forsake　her　accustomed
placidity；　said：　〃Nurse　。　。　。　Nurse　。　。　。〃　Jeremy　cried：　〃It's　all
right；　he　wouldn't　touch　anything；　he's　only　friendly。〃　Mary　and
Helen　together　moved　forward　as　though　to　protect　Jeremy；　and　the
Jampot　could　be　heard　in　a　confused　wail：　〃Not　me；　Mum　。　。　。
Wickedest　boy　。　。　。　better　give　notice　。　。　。　as　never　listens　。　。　。
dog　。　。　。　dog　。　。　。〃

The　animal；　however；　showed　himself　now；　as　at　that　first　earlier
view　of　him；　indifferent　to　his　surroundings。　He　continued　his
advance　and　then；　being　only　a　fraction　of　an　inch　from　Mr。
Jellybrand's　tempting　gleaming　black　trousers；　he　stopped；　crouched
like　a　tiger；　and　with　teeth　still　bared　continued　his　kettle…like
reverberations。　Aunt　Amy；　who　hated　dogs；　loved　Mr。　Jellybrand；　and
was　not　in　the　least　sentimental　when　her　personal　safety　was　in
danger；　cried　in　a　shrill　voice：　〃But　take　it　away。　Take　it　away。
Alice；　tell　him。　It's　going　to　bite　Mr。　Jellybrand。〃

The　dog　raised　one　eye　from　his　dreamy　contemplation　of　the　trousers
and　glanced　at　Aunt　Amy；　from　that　moment　may　be　dated　a　feud　which
death　only　concluded。　This　dog　was　not　a　forgetful　dog。

Jeremy　advanced。　〃It's　all　right；〃　he　cried　scornfully。　〃He　wouldn't
bite　anything。〃　He　bent　down；　took　the　animal　by　the　scruff　of　the
neck；　and　proceeded　to　lead　it　back　to　the　fire。　The　animal　went
without　a　moment's　hesitation；　it　would　be　too　much　to　say　that　it
exchanged　a　wink　with　Jeremy；　but　something　certainly　passed　between
them。　Back　again　on　the　Turkey　rug　he　became　master　of　the
situation。　He　did　the　only　thing　possible：　he　disregarded　entirely
the　general　company　and　addressed　himself　to　the　only　person　of
ultimate　importancenamely；　Mrs。　Cole。　He　lay　down　on　all　fours；
looked　up　directly　into　her　face；　bared　his　teeth　this　time　in　a
smile　and　not　in　a　growl；　and　wagged　his　farcical　tail。

Mrs。　Cole's　psychology　was　of　the　simplest：　if　you　were　nice　to　her
she　would　do　anything　for　you；　but　in　spite　of　all　her　placidity　she
was　sometimes　hurt　in　her　most　sensitive　places。　These　wounds　she
never　displayed；　and　no　one　ever　knew　of　them；　and　indeed　they
passed　very　quicklybut　ther