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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 quite impossible