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was ridiculous to mind what Hamlet did； that he was not looking at
her； and； in any case； he was only a； dogand so on。
But to…night she was tired； and had read so long that her head
achedHamlet was laughing at her； his eyes stared through his hair
at her； cynically； superciliously； contemptuously。 His lip curled
and his beard bristled。 Moved by a sudden wild impulse she picked up
〃The Chaplet of Pearls〃 and threw it at him。 It hit him （not very
severely）； and he gave the sharp； melodramatic howl that he always
used when it was his dignity rather than his body that was hurt。
Jeremy looked up； saw what had happened； and a fine scene followed。
Mary had hysterics； stamped and screamed and howled。 Jeremy； his
face white； stood and said nothing； but looked as though he hated
her； which at that moment he undoubtedly did。 It was that look which
more than anything else in the world she dreaded。
She made herself sick with crying； then apologised with an abjection
that only irritated him the more； finally remembered the smallest
details of the affair long after he had forgotten all about it。
II
During the first weeks at Cow Farm Mary was happy。 She had then many
especial private joys； such as climbing into one of the old apple
trees behind the house and reading there； safe from the world； or
inventing for herself wonderful adventures out of the dark glooms
and sunlit spaces of the orchard； or creeping about the lofts and
barns as though they were full of the most desperate dangers and
hazards that she alone had the pluck and intelligence to overcome。
Then Mrs。 Monk was kind to her； and listened to her imaginative
chatter with a most marvellous patience。 Mary did not know that；
after these narrations； she would shake her head and say to her
husband： 〃Not long for this world； I'm thinking； poor worm。 。 。not
long for this world。〃
Then； at first Jeremy was kind and considerate。 He was so happy that
he did not mind what anyone did； and he would listen to Mary's
stories quite in the old way； whistling to himself； not thinking
about her at all perhaps； really； but very patient。 After the first
fortnight he slipped away from her againand now more than ever
before。 He went off for long walks with Hamlet； refusing to take her
with them； he answered her questions so vaguely that she could see
that he paid her no attention at all； he turned upon her and rent
her if she complained。 And it was all； she was sure； that horrible
dog。 Jeremy was always with Hamlet now。 The free life that the farm
gave them； no lessons； no set hours； no care for appearances； left
them to choose their own ways； and so developed their
individualities。 Helen was now more and more with her elders； was
becoming that invaluable thing； 〃a great help to her mother；〃 and
even； to her own inexhaustible pride； paid two calls with Mrs。 Cole
on the wives of neighbouring farmers。 Then； Barbara absorbed more
than ever of Helen's attention； and Mary was not allowed to share in
these rites and services because 〃she always made Barbara cry。〃
She was； therefore； very much alone； and felt all her injuries twice
as deeply as she had felt them before。 Hamlet began to be an
obsession with her。 She had always had a habit of talking to
herself； and now she could be heard telling herself that if it were
not for the dog； Jeremy would always be with her； would play with
her； walk with her； laugh with her as he used to do。 She acquired
now an awkward habit of gazing at him with passionate intensity。 He
would raise his eyes and find the great moon…faced spectacles fixed
upon him with a beseeching； reproachful glare in the light of them。
This would irritate him intensely。 He would say：
〃You'll know me next time； Mary。〃
She would blush crimson and then； with trembling mouth； answer：
〃I wasn't looking。〃
〃Yes； you were。〃
〃No； I wasn't。〃
〃Of course； you werestaring as though I were an Indian or
Chinaman。 If my face is dirty； say so。〃
〃It isn't dirty。〃
〃Well； then〃
〃You're always so cross。〃
〃I'm not crossonly you're so silly〃
〃You usen't always to say I was silly。 Now you always doevery
minute。〃
〃So you are。〃 Then as he saw the tears coming he would get up and go
away。 He didn't mean to be unkind to her； he was fond of herbut he
hated scenes。
〃Mary's always howling about something now；〃 he confided to Helen。
〃Is she？〃 Helen answered with indifference。 〃Mary's such a baby。〃
So Mary began to attribute everything to the dog。 It seemed to her
then that she met the animal everywhere。 Cow Farm was a rambling
building； with dark； uneven stairs； low…ceilinged rooms； queer； odd
corners； and sudden unexpected doors。 It seemed to Mary as though in
this place there were two Hamlets。 When； in the evening she went to
her room； hurrying through the passages for fear of what she might
see； stumbling over the uneven boards； sniffling the mice and straw
under the smell of her tallow candle； suddenly out of nowhere at all
Hamlet would appear scurrying along； like the White Rabbit； intent
on serious business。
He came so softly and with so sudden a flurry and scatter when she
did hear him that her heart would beat for minutes afterwards； and
she would not dare that night to search； as she usually did； for
burglars under her bed； but would lie； quaking； hot and staring；
unable to sleep。 When at last dreams came they would be haunted by a
monstrous dog； all hair and eyes； who； with padding feet； would
track her round and round a room from which there was no escape。
Hamlet； being one of the wisest of dogs； very quickly discovered
that Mary hated him。 He was not a sentimental dog； and he did not
devote his time to inventing ways in which he might placate his
enemy； he simply avoided her。 But he could not hinder a certain
cynical and ironic pleasure that he had of； so to speak； flaunting
his master in her face。 He clung to Jeremy more resolutely than
ever； would jump up at him； lick his hands and tumble about in front
of him whenever Mary was there； and then suddenly； very straight and
very grave； would stare at her as though he were the most devout and
obedient dog in the place。 Indeed； he bore her no malice； he could
afford to disregard the Marys of this world； and of women in general
he had a poor opinion。 But he loved to tease； and Mary was an easy
prey。 He had his fun with her。
After the affair of the sea…picnic； Jeremy was for some time under a
cloud。 It was felt that he was getting too big for anyone to manage。
It was not that he was wicked； not that he kept bad company with the
boys on the farm； or was dishonest； or told lies； or stole things
no； he gave no one that kind of anxietybut that he was developing
quite unmistakably a will of his own； and had a remarkable way of
doing what he wanted without being actually disobedient； which was
very puzzling to his elders。 Being a little in disgrace he went off
more than ever by himself； always appearing again at the appointed
time； but telling no one where he had been or what he had been
doing。 His father had no influence over him at all； whilst Uncle
Samuel could make him do whatever he wantedand this； as Aunt Amy
s