jeremy-第7章

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never　displayed；　and　no　one　ever　knew　of　them；　and　indeed　they
passed　very　quicklybut　there　they　occasionally　were。　Now　on　what
slender　circumstances　do　the　fates　of　dogs　and　mortals　hang。　Only
that　afternoon　Mr。　Jellybrand；　in　the　innocent　self…confidence　of
his　heart；　had　agreed　with　Miss　Maple；　an　elderly　and　bitter
spinster；　that　the　next　sewing　meeting　of　the　Dorcas　Sisterhood
should　be　held　in　her　house　and　not　at　the　Rectory。　He　had　told　Mrs。
Cole　of　this　on　his　way　upstairs　to　the　nursery。　Now　Mrs。　Cole　liked
the　Dorcas　meetings　at　the　Rectory；　she　liked　the　cheerful　chatter；
the　hospitality；　the　gentle　scandal　and　her　own　position　as　hostess。

She　did　not　likeshe　never　likedMiss　Maple；　who　was　always
pushing　herself　forward；　criticising　and　back…　biting。　Mr。
Jellybrand　should　not　have　settled　this　without　consulting　her。　He
had　taken　it　for　granted　that　she　would　agree。　He　had　said：　〃I
agreed　with　Miss　Maple　that　it　would　be　better　to　have　it　at　her
house。　I'm　sure　you　will　think　as　I　do。〃　Why　should　he　be　sure？　Was
he　not　forgetting　his　position　a　little？　。　。　。

Kindest　woman　in　the　world；　she　had　seen　with　a　strange　un…Christian
pleasure　the　dog's　advance　upon　the　black　trousers。　Then　Mr。
Jellybrand　had　been　obviously　afraid。　He　fancied；　perhaps；　that　she
too　had　been　afraid。　He　fancied；　perhaps；　that　she　was　not　mistress
in　her　house；　that　she　could　be　browbeaten　by　her　sister　and　her
nurse。

She　smiled　at　him。　〃There's　no　reason　to　be　afraid；　Mr。　Jellybrand。
。　。　。　He's　such　a　little　dog。〃

Then　the　dog　smiled　at　her。

〃Poor　little　thing；〃　she　said。　〃He　must　have　nearly　died　in　the
snow。〃

Thus　Miss　Maple；　bitterest　of　spinsters；　influenced；　all　unwitting；
the　lives　not　only　of　a　dog　and　a　curate；　but　of　the　entire　Cole
family；　and　through　them；　of　endless　generations　both　of　dogs　and
men　as　yet　unborn。　Miss　Maple；　sitting　in　her　little　yellow…
curtained　parlour　drinking；　in　jaundiced　contentment；　her
afternoon's　cup　of　tea；　was；　of　course；　unaware　of　this。　A　good
thing　that　she　was　unaware　…　she　was　quite　conceited　enough　already。




IV


After　that　smiling　judgment　of　Mrs。　Cole's；　affairs　were　quickly
settled。

〃Of　course　it　can　only　be　for　the　night；　children。　Father　will
arrange　something　in　the　morning。　Poor　little　thing。　Where　did　you
find　him？〃

〃We　saw　him　from　the　window；〃　said　Jeremy　quickly；　〃and　he　was
shivering　like　anything；　so　we　called　him　in　to　warm　him。〃

〃My　dear　Alice；　you　surely　don't　mean〃　began　Aunt　Amy；　and　the
Jampot　said：　〃I　really　think；　Mum…；〃　and　Mr。　Jellybrand；　in　his　rich
voice；　murmured：　〃Is　it　quite　wise；　dear　Mrs。　Cole；　do　you　think？〃

With　thoughts　of　Miss　Maple　she　smiled　upon　them　all。

〃Oh；　for　one　night；　I　think　we　can　manage。　He　seems　a　clean　little
dog；　and　really　we　can't　turn　him　out　into　the　snow　at　once。　It
would　be　too　cruel。　But　mind；　children；　it's　only　for　one　night。　He
looks　a　good　little　dog。〃

When　the　〃quality〃　had　departed；　Jeremy's　mind　was　in　a　confused
condition　of　horror　and　delight。　Such　a　victory　as　he　had　won　over
the　Jampot；　a　victory　that　was　a　further　stage　in　the　fight　for
independence　begun　on　his　birthday；　might　have　very　awful　qualities。
There　would　begin　now　one　of　the　Jampot's　sulksmoods　well　known　to
the　Cole　family；　and　lasting　from　a　day　to　a　week；　according　to　the
gravity　of　the　offence。　Yes；　they　had　already　begun。　There　she　sat
in　her　chair　by　the　fire；　sewing；　sewing；　her　fat；　roly…poly　face
carved　into　a　parody　of　deep　displeasure。　Life　would　be　very
unpleasant　now。　No　tops　of　eggs；　no　marmalade　on　toast；　no　skins　of
milk；　no　stories　of　〃when　I　was　a　young　girl；〃　no　sitting　up　five
minutes　〃later；〃　no　stopping　in　the　market…place　for　a　talk　with　the
banana　womanonly　stern　insistence　on　every　detail　of　daily　life；
swift　judgment　were　anything　left　undone　or　done　wrong。

Jeremy　sighed；　yes；　it　would　be　horrid　and；　for　the　sake　of　the
world　in　general；　which　meant　Mary　and　Helen；　he　must　see　what　a
little　diplomacy　would　do。　Kneeling　down　by　the　dog；　he　looked　up
into　her　face　with　the　gaze　of　ingenuous　innocence。

〃You　wouldn't　have　wanted　the　poor　little　dog　to　have　died　in　the
snow；　would　you；　Nurse　？　。　。　。　It　might；　you　know。　It　won't　be　any
trouble；　I　expect〃

There　was　no　reply。　He　could　hear　Mary　and　Helen　drawing　in　their
breaths　with　excited　attention。

〃Father　always　said　we　might　have　a　dog　one　day　when　we　were　older
and　we　are　older　now。〃

Still　no　word。

〃We'll　be　extra　good；　Nurse；　if　you　don't　mind。　Don't　you　remember
once　you　said　you　had　a　dog　when　you　were　a　little　girl；　and　how　you
cried　when　it　had　its　ear　bitten　off　by　a　nasty　big　dog；　and　how
your　mother　said　she　wouldn't　have　it　fighting　round　the　house；　and
sent　it　away；　and　you　cried；　and　cried；　and　cried；　and　how　you　said
that　p'r'aps　we'll　have　one　one　day？and　now　we've　got　one。〃

He　ended　triumphantly。　She　raised　her　eyes　for　one　moment；　stared　at
them　all；　bit　off　a　piece　of　thread；　and　said　in　deep；　sepulchral
tones：

〃Either　it　goes；　or　I　go。〃

The　three　stared　at　one　another。　The　Jampot　go？　Really　go？　。　。　。
They　could　hear　their　hearts　thumping　one　after　another。　The　Jampot
go？

〃Oh；　Nurse；　would　you　really？〃　whispered　Mary。　This　innocent　remark
of　Mary's　conveyed　in　the　tone　of　it　more　pleased　anticipation　than
was；　perhaps；　polite。　Certainly　the　Jampot　felt　this；　a　flood　of
colour　rose　into　her　face。　Her　mouth　opened。　But　what　she　would　have
said　is　uncertain；　for　at　that　very　moment　the　drama　was　further
developed　by　the　slow　movement　of　the　door；　and　the　revelation　of
half　of　Uncle　Samuel's　body；　clothed　in　its　stained　blue　painting
smock；　and　his　ugly　fat　face　clothed　in　its　usual　sarcastic　smile。

〃Excuse　me　one　moment；〃　he　said；　〃I　hear　you　have　a　dog。〃

The　Jampot　rose；　as　good　manners　demanded；　but　said　nothing。

〃Where　is　the　creature？〃　he　asked。

The　new　addition　to　the　Cole　family　had　finished　his　washing；　the
blazing　fire　had　almost　dried　him；　and　his　hair　stuck　out　now　from
his　body　in　little　stiff　prickles；　hedgehog　fashion；　giving　him　a
truly　original　appearance。　His　beard　afforded　him　the　air　of　an
ambassador；　and　his　grave；　melancholy　eyes　the　absorbed
introspection　of　a　Spanish　hidalgo；　his　tail；　however；　in　its
upright；　stumpy　jocularity；　betrayed　his　dignity。

〃There　he　is；〃　said　Jeremy；　with　a　glance　half　of　terror；　half　of
delight；　at　the　Jampot。　〃Isn't　he　lovely？〃

〃Lovely。　My　word！〃　Uncle　Samuel's　smile　broadened。　〃He's　about　the
most　hideous　mongrel　it's　ever　been　my　lot　to　set　eyes　on。　But　he
has　his　points。　He　despises　you　all；　I'm　glad　to　see。〃

Jeremy；　as　usual　with　Uncle　Samuel；　was　uncertain　as　to　his
sincerity。

〃He　looks　a　bit　funny　just　now；〃　he　explained。　〃He's　been　drying　on
the　rug。　He'll　be　all　right　soon。　He　wanted　to　bite　Mr。　Jellybrand。
It　was　funny。　Mr。　Jellybrand　was　frightened　as　anything。〃

〃Yes；　that　must　have　been　delightful；〃　agreed　Uncle　Samuel。　〃What's
his　name？〃

〃We　haven't　given　him　one　yet。　Wouldn't　you　think　of　one；　Uncle
Samuel？〃

The　uncle　considered　the　dog。　The　dog；　with　grave　and　scornful　eyes；
considered　the　uncle。

〃Well；　if　you　really　ask　me；〃　said　that　gentleman；　〃if　you　name　him
by　his　character　I　should　say　Hamlet　would　be　as　good　as　anything。〃

〃What's　Hamlet？〃　asked　Jeremy。

〃He　isn't　anything　just　now。　But　he　was　a　prince　who　Was　unhappy
because　he　thought　so　much　about　himself。〃

〃Hamlet'11　do；〃　said　Jeremy　comfortably。　〃I've　never　heard　of　a　dog
called　that；　but　it's　easy　to　say。〃

〃Well；　I　must　go；〃　said　Uncle　Samuel；　making　one　of　his　usual　sudden
departures。　〃Glad　to　have　seen　the　animal。　Good…bye。〃

He　vanished。

〃Hamlet；〃　repeated　Jeremy　thoughtfully。　〃I　wonder　whether　he'll　like
that…〃

His　attention；　however；　was　caught　by　the　Jampot's　sudden　outburst。

〃All　of　them；〃　she　cried；　〃supporting　you　in　your　wickedness　and
disobedience。　I　won't　'ave　it　nor　endure　it　not　a　minute　longer。
They　can　'ave　my　notice　this　moment；　and　I　won't　take　it　back；　not
if　they　ask　me　on　their　bended　knees　…　no；　I　won't　…　and　that's
straight。〃

For　an　instant　she　frowned　upon　them　all　…　then　she　was　gone；　the
door　banging　after　her。

They　gazed　at　one　another。

There　was　a　dreadful　silence。　Once　Mary　whispered：　〃Suppose　she
really　does。〃

Hamlet　only　was　unmoved。

Ten　minutes　later；　Rose；　the　housemaid；　entered　with　the　tea…things。
For　a　little　she　was　silent。　Then　the　three　faces　raised　to　hers
compelled　her　confidence。

〃Nurse　has　been　and　given　notice；〃　she　said；　〃and　the　Missis　has
taken　it。　She's　going　at　the　end　of　the　month。　She's　crying　now　in
the　kitchen。〃

They　were　alone　again。　Mary　and　Helen　looked　at　Jeremy　as　though
waiting　to　follow　his　lead。　He　did　not　know　what　to　say。　There　was
Tragedy；　there　was　Victory；　there　was　Remorse；　there　was　Triumph。　He
was　sorry；　he　was　glad。　His　eyes　fell　upon　Hamlet；　who　was　now
stretched　out　upon　the　rug；　his　nose　between　his　paws；　fast　asleep。

Then　he　looked　at　his　sisters。

〃Well；〃　he　said　slowly；　〃it's　awfully　nice　to　have　a　doganyway。〃

Such　is　the　true　and　faithful　account　of　Hamlet's　entrance　into　the
train　of　the　Coles。




CHAPTER　III

CHRISTMAS　PANTOMIME


I


I　am　sometimes　inclined　to　wonder　whether；　in　very　truth；　those
Polchester　Christmases　of　nearly　thirty　years　ago　were　so　marvellous
as　now　in　retrospect　they　seem。　I　can　give　details　of　those
splendours；　facts　and　figures；　that　to　the　onlooker　are　less　than
nothing　at　alla　sugar　elephant　in　a　stocking；　a　box　of　pencils　on
a　Christmas　tree；　〃Hark；　the　Herald　Angels。　。　。〃　at　three　in　the
morning　below　one's　window；　a　lighted　plum…　pudding；　a　postman　four
hours　late；　his　back　bent　with　bursting　parcels。　And　it　is　something
furtherbehind　the　sugar　cherries　and　the　paper　caps　and　the
lighted　treethat　remains　to　give　magic　to　those　days；　a　sense　of
expectancy；　a　sense　of　richness；　a　sense　of　worship；　a　visit　from
the　Three　Kings　who　have　so　seldom　come　to　visit　one　since。

That　Christmas　of　Jeremy's　ninth　year　was　one　of　the　best　that　he
ever　had；　it　was　perhaps　the　last　of　the　MAGICAL　Christmases。　After
this　he　was　to　know　too　much；　was　to　see　Father　Christmas　vanish
before　a　sum　in　arithmetic；　and　a　stocking　change　into　something
that　〃boys　who　go　to　school　never　have〃the　last　of　the　Christmases
of　divine　magic；　when　the　snow　fell　and　the　waits　sang　and　the
stockings　were　filled　and　the　turkey　fattened　and　the　candles　blazed
and　the　holly　crackled　by　the　will　of　God　rather　than　the　power　of
man。　It　would　be　many　years　before　he　would　realise　that；　after　all；
in　those　early　days　he　had　been　right。　。　。

A　very　fat　book　could　be　written　about　all　that　had　happened　during
that　wonderful　Christmas；　how　Hamlet　the　Dog　caught　a　rat　to　his　own
immense　surprise；　how　the　Coles'　Christmas　dinner　was　followed　by　a
play　acted　with　complete　success　by　the　junior　members　of　the
family；　and　it　was　only　Mr。　Jellybrand　the　curate　who　disapproved；
how　Aunt　Amy　had　a　new　dress　in　which；　by　general　consent；　she
looked　ridiculous；　how　Mary；　owing　to　the　foolish　kindness　of　Mrs。
Bartholomew；　the　Precentor's　wife；　was　introduced　to　the　works　of
Charlotte　Mary　Yonge　and　became　qu