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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；