jeremy-第8章

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Bartholomew；　the　Precentor's　wife；　was　introduced　to　the　works　of
Charlotte　Mary　Yonge　and　became　quite　impossible　in　consequence；　how
Miss　Maple　had　a　children's　party　at　which　there　was　nothing　to　eat；
so　that　all　the　children　cried　with　disappointment；　and　one　small
boy　（the　youngest　son　of　the　Precentor）　actually　bit　Miss　Maple；　how
for　two　whole　days　it　really　seemed　that　there　would　be　skating　on
The　Pool；　and　everyone　bought　skates；　and　then；　of　course；　the　ice
broke；　and　so　on；　and　so　on。　。　。　there　is　no　end　to　the　dramatic
incidents　of　that　great　sensational　time。

The　theme　that　I　sing；　however；　is　Jeremy's　Progress；　and　although
even　Hamlet's　catching　of　a　rat　influenced　his　development；　there
was　one　incident　of　this　Christmas　that　stands　out　and　away　from　all
the　others；　an　affair　that　he　will　never　all　his　days　forget；　and
that　even　now；　at　this　distance　of　time　and　experience；　causes　his
heart　to　beat　roughly　with　the　remembered　excitement　and　pleasure。

Several　weeks　before　Christmas　there　appeared　upon　the　town　walls
and　hoardings　the　pictured　announcements　of　the　approaching　visit　to
Polchester　of　Denny's　Great　Christmas　Pantomime　〃Dick　Whittington。〃
Boxing　Night　was　to　see　the　first　performance　at　our　Assembly　Rooms；
and　during　every　afternoon　and　evening　of　the　next　three　weeks　this
performance　was　to　be　repeated。

A　pantomime　had；　I　believe；　never　visited　our　town　before；　there
had；　of　course；　for　many　years　been　the　Great　Christmas　Pantomime　at
the　Theatre　Royal；　Drymouth；　but　in　those　days　trains　were　not　easy；
and　if　you　wished　to　attend　an　afternoon　performance　at　the　Drymouth
Theatre　you　must　rise　very　early　in　the　morning　by　the　candle…light
and　return　late　in　the　evening；　with　the　cab　forgetting　to　meet　you
at　the　station　as　commanded；　and　the　long　walk　up　Orange　Street；　and
a　headache　and　a　bad　temper　next　day。

It　happened　naturally　then　that　the　majority　of　the　Polchester
children　had　never　set　their　inquisitive　noses　within　the　doors　of　a
theatre；　and　although　the　two　eldest　daughters　of　the　Dean；　aged　ten
and　eleven；　had　been　once　to　London　and　to　Drury　Lane　Theatre；　their
sense　of　glory　and　distinction　so　clouded　their　powers　of　accuracy
and　clarity　that　we　were　no　nearer；　by　their　help　and　authority；　to
the　understanding　of　what　a　pantomime　might　really　be。

I　can　myself　recall　the　glory　of　those　〃Dick　Whittington〃　pictures。
Just　above　Martin's　the　pastry…cook's　（where　they　sold　lemon
biscuits）；　near　the　Cathedral；　there　was　a　big　wooden　hoarding；　and
on　to　this　was　pasted　a　marvellous　representation　of　Dick　and　his
Cat　dining　with　the　King　of　the　Zanzibar　Islands。　The　King；　a
Mulatto；　sat　with　his　court　in　a　hall　with　golden　pillars；　and　the
rats　were　to　be　seen　flying　in　a　confused　flood　towards　the　golden
gates；　whilst　Dick；　in　red　plush　and　diamond　buckles；　stood　in
dignified　majesty；　the　Cat　at　his　side。　There　was　another　wonderful
picture　of　Dick　asleep　at　the　Cross　Roads；　fairies　watching　over
him；　and　London　Town　in　a　lighted　purple　distanceand　another　of
the　streets　of　Old　London　with　a　comic　fat　serving　man；　diamond…
paned　windows；　cobblestones　and　high　pointing　eaves　to　the　houses。

Jeremy　saw　these　pictures　for　the　first　time　during　one　of　his
afternoon　walks；　and　returned　home　in　such　a　state　of　choking
excitement　that　he　could　not　drink　his　tea。　As　was　ever　his　way　he
was　silent　and　controlled　about　the　matter；　asked　very　few
questions；　and　although　he　talked　to　himself　a　little　did　not
disturb　the　general　peace　of　the　nursery。　On　Mary　and　Helen　the
effect　of　the　posters　had　been　less。　Mary　was　following　the
adventures　of　the　May　family　in　〃The　Daisy　Chain；〃　and　Helen　was
making　necklaces　for　herself　out　of　a　box　of　beads　that　had　been
given　her。

When　Jeremy　said　once；　〃Who　was　the　man　in　the　red　trousers　with
gold　on　them？〃　no　one　paid　any　attention　save　Hamlet；　who　wagged　his
tail；　looked　wise　and　growled　a　little。

Who　indeed　could　tell　how　he　ached　and　longed　and　desired　　He　had　a
very　vague　idea　as　to　the　nature　of　a　play；　they　had　often　dressed
up　at　home　and　pretended　to　be　different　things　and　people；　and；　of
course；　he　knew　by　heart　the　whole　history　of　Dick　Whittington；　but
this　knowledge　and　experience　did　not　in　the　least　force　him　to
realise　that　this　performance　of　Mr。　Denny's　was　simply　a　larger；
more　developed　〃dressing　up〃　and　pretending。　In　some　mysterious　but
nevertheless　direct　fashion　Dick　Whittington　was　coming　to
Polchester。　It　was　just　as　he　had　heard　for　a　long　time　of　the
existence　of　Aunt　Emily　who　lived　in　Manchesterand　then　one　day
she　appeared　in　a　black　bonnet　and　a　shawl；　and　gave　them　wet　kisses
and　sixpence　apiece。

Dick　Whittington　was　coming；　having　perhaps　heard　that　Polchester
was　a　very　jolly　place。　So　might　come　any　day　Jack　of　the　Beanstalk；
Cinderella；　Queen　Victoria；　and　God。

There　were　questions　meanwhile　that　he　would　like　to　ask；　but　he　was
already　a　victim　to　that　properly　English　fear　of　making　a　fool　of
himself；　so　he　asked　nothing。　He　dragged　out　his　toy　village　and
tried　to　make　it　a　bridge　in　his　imagination　between　the　nursery　and
Whittington's　world。　As　the　village　opened　a　door　from　the　nursery；
so　might　Whittington　open　a　door　from　the　village。

He　considered　Hamlet　and　wondered　whether　he　knew　anything　about　it。
Hamlet；　in　spite　of　his　mongrel　appearance；　was　a　very　clever　dog。
He　had　his　especial　corners　in　the　garden；　the　kitchen　and　the
nursery。　He　never　misbehaved；　was　never　in　the　way；　and　was　able　to
amuse　himself　for　hours　together。　Although　he　attached　himself　quite
deliberately　to　Jeremy；　he　did　this　in　no　sentimental　fashion；　and
in　his　animosities　towards　the　Jampot；　Aunt　Amy　and　the　boy　who
helped　with　the　boots　and　the　knives；　he　was　always　restrained　and
courteous。　He　did　indeed　growl　at　Aunt　Amy；　but　always　with　such　a
sense　of　humour　that　everyone　（except　Aunt　Amy）　was　charmed；　and　he
never　actually　supported　the　children　in　their　rebellions　against
the　Jampot；　although　you　could　see　that　he　liked　and　approved　of
such　things。　The　Jampot　hated　him　with　a　passion　that　caused　the
nursery　to　quiver　with　emotion。　Was　he　not　the　cause　of　her
approaching　departure；　his　first　appearance　having　led　her　into　a
tempest　of　passion　that　had　caused　her　to　offer　a　〃notice〃　that　she
had　never　for　an　instant　imagined　would　be　accepted？　Was　he　not　a
devilish　dog　who；　with；　his　quiet　movements　and　sly　expressions；　was
more　than　human？　〃Mark　my　words；〃　she　said　in　the　kitchen；　〃there's
a　devil　in　that　there　animal；　and　so　they'll　find　before　they're
many　years　older'Amlet　indeeda　'eathenish　name　and　a　'eathenish
beast。〃

Her　enemy　had　discovered　that　in　one　corner　of　the　nursery　there
were　signs　and　symbols　that　witnessed　to　something　in　the　nature　of
a　mouse　or　a　rat。　That　nursery　corner　became　the　centre　of　all　his
more　adventurous　instincts。　It　happened　to　be　just　the　corner　where
the　Jampot　kept　her　sewing　machine；　and　you　would　think；　if　you　came
to　the　nursery　as　a　stranger；　and　saw　him　sitting；　his　eyes　fixed
beamingly　upon　the　machine；　his　tail　erect；　and　his　body　here　and
there　quivering　a　little；　that　from　duties　of　manly　devotion　he　was
protecting　the　Jampot's　property。　She　knew　better；　she　regarded；　in
some　undefined　way；　this　continued　contemplation　by　him　of　her
possessions　as　an　ironical　insult。　She　did　everything　possible　to
drive　him　from　the　corner；　he　inevitably　returned；　and　as　he　always
delicately　stepped　aside　when　she　approached；　it　could　not　be　said
that　he　was　in　her　way。　Once　she　struck　him；　he　looked　at　her　in
such　a　fashion　that　〃her　flesh　crept。〃　。　。　。　She　never　struck　him
again。

For　Jeremy　he　became　more　and　more　of　a　delight。　He　understood　so
much。　He　sympathised；　he　congratulated；　he　sported；　always　at　the
right　moment。　He　would　sit　gravely　at　Jeremy's　feet；　his　body
pressed　against　Jeremy's　leg；　one　leg　stuck　out　square；　his　eyes
fixed　inquisitively　upon　the　nursery　scene。　He　would　be　motionless；
then　suddenly　some　thought　would　electrify　himhis　ears　would　cock；
his　eyes　shine；　his　nose　quiver；　his　tail　tumble。　The　crisis　would
pass；　he　would　be　composed　once　more。　He　would　slide　down　to　the
floor；　his　whole　body　collapsing；　his　head　would　rest　upon　Jeremy's
foot；　he　would　dream　of　cats；　of　rats；　of　birds；　of　the　Jampot；　of
beef　and　gravy；　of　sugar；　of　being　washed；　of　the　dogs'　Valhalla；　of
fire　and　warmth；　of　Jeremy；　of　walks　when　every　piece　of　flying
paper　was　a　challenge；　of　dogs；　dogs　that　he　had　known　of　when　he
was　a　puppy；　of　doing　things　he　shouldn't；　of　punishment　and　wisdom；
pride　and　anger；　of　love…affairs　of　his　youth；　of　battle；　of
settling…down；　of　love…　affairs　in　the　future；　again　of　cats　and
beef；　and　smellssmellssmells；　again　of　Jeremy；　whom　he　loved。
And　Jeremy；　watching　him　now；　thus　sleeping；　and　thinking　of　Dick
Whittington；　wondered　why　it　was　that　a　dog　would　understand　so
easily；　without　explanations；　the　thoughts　and　desires　he　had；　and
that　all　grown…up　people　would　not　understand；　and　would　demand　so
many　explanations；　and　would　laugh　at　one；　and　pity　one；　and　despise
one。　Why　was　it？　he　asked　himself。

〃I　know；〃　he　suddenly　cried；　turning　upon　Helen；　〃it　can　be　your
birthday　treat！〃

〃What　can？〃　she　asked。

〃Why；　going　to　Dick　Whittingtonall　of　us。〃

Helen　had；　most　unfortunately　for　herself；　a　birthday　only　a　week
after　Christmas；　the　result　being　that；　in　her　own　opinion　at　any
rate；　she　never　received　〃proper　presents〃　on　either　of　those　two
great　present…giving　occasions。　She　was　always　allowed；　however；　a
〃treat〃；　her　requests　were　generally　in　the　nature　of　food；　once　of
a　ride　in　the　train；　once　even　a　visit　to　the　Polchester　Museum。　。　。
It　was　difficult　in　those　days　to　find　〃treats〃　in　Polchester。

〃Oh；　do　you　think　they'd　let　us？〃　she　said；　her　eyes　wide。

〃We　can　try；〃　said　Jeremy。　〃I　heard　Aunt　Amy　say　the　other　day　that
she　didn't　think　it　was　right　for　children　to　see　acting；　and　Mother
always　does　the　opposite　to　what　Aunt　Amy　says；　so　p'r'aps　it　will
be　all　right。　I　wish　Hamlet　could　go；〃　he　added。

〃Don't　be　silly！〃　said　Helen。

〃It　isn't　silly；〃　Jeremy　said　indignantly。　〃It's　all　about　a　cat；
anyway；　and　he'd　love　to　see　all　the　rats　and　things。　He　wouldn't
bark　if　we　told　him　not　to；　and　I　held　his　collar。〃

〃If　Aunt　Amy　sat　next　him　he　would；〃　said　Mary。

〃Oh；　bother　Aunt　Amy；〃　said　Jeremy。

After　this　Helen　needed　a　great　deal　of　urging；　but　she　heard　that
Lucy　and　Angela；　the　aforesaid　daughters　of　the　Dean；　were　going；
and　the　spirit　of　rivalry　drove　her　forward。

It　happened　that　the　Dean　himself　one　day　said　something　to　Mr。　Cole
about　〃supporting　a　very　praiseworthy　effort。　They　are　presenting；　I
understand；　the　proceeds　of　the　first　performance　to　the　Cathedral
Orphanage。〃

Helen　was　surprised　at　the　readiness　with　which　her　request　was
granted。

〃We'll　all　go；〃　said　Mr。　Cole；　in　his　genial；　pastoral　fashion。
〃Good　for　us　。　。　。　good　for　us　。　。　。　to　see　the　little　ones　laugh　。
。　。　good　for　us　all。〃

Only　Uncle　Samuel　said　〃that　nothing　would　induce　him〃




II


I　pass　swiftly　over　Christmas　Eve；　Christmas　Day；　and　the　day　after；
although　I　sho